MAPK信号通路在新生隐球菌致病机制中的作用

A role of MAPK pathway in the pathogenic mechanism of Cryptcococcus neoformans

新生/格特隐球菌是一种双相担子类病原真菌。隐球菌性脑膜炎是最常见的隐球菌病,致残率和死亡率极高。和宿主环境有效交流对隐球菌的生存至关重要。隐球菌利用复杂的信号系统来感应外界环境的变化并调控繁殖、发展和毒力。已知多种信号通路参与新生隐球菌对宿主环境的应答,调控新生隐球菌毒力。MAPK通路(mitogen-activated protein ki-nase)是其中最重要的信号通路之一,包括高渗透性甘油促分裂原激酶信号转导通路(high osmolarity glycerol mitogen activated protein kinase signaling transduction pathway,HOG-MAPK)、蛋白激酶C信号转导通路(protein kinase C mitogen activated protein kinase signaling transduction pathway,PKC-MAPK)及Ste12转录基因通路(sterile12 transcriptors mitogen activated protein kinase signaling transduction pathway,Ste12-MAPK)。对这些传导通路各个环节的了解,不仅有助于阐明MAPK通路的作用机制及其对毒力调控的作用,而且可以为寻找新的药物靶点、治疗新生隐球菌病提供帮助。

Cryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gatti is a dimorphic basidiomycetous pathogenic fungus. Cryptococcus menin- gitis is the most common cryptococcosis, causing high mortality and morbidity. Efficient communication with host＇s environment is crucial to survival of Cryptococcus neoformans. Cryptococcus neoformans has developed complex signaling systems to sense and reply to their environment, to control proliferation and virulence. Including HOG-MAPK （high osmolarity glycerol mitogen activated pro- tein kinase signaling transduction pathway）, PKC-MAPK （protein kinase C mitogen activated protein kinase signaling transduction pathway）, and Stel2-MAPK （sterilel2 transcriptors mitogen activated protein kinase signaling transduction pathway）, MAPK （mito- gen-activated protein kinase） signaling pathway is one of the most important signaling pathways. Investigation on components of these MAPK signaling pathways is not only useful to discover their role in Crytococcosis, but also helpful to explore new possible antifungal drug targets.