Systemic Candidiasis and TLR2 Agonist Exposure Impact the Antifungal Response of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells

Introduction

Candida albicans is the microorganism most frequently causing opportunistic fungal infections. Systemic candidiasis are life-threatening infections whose frequency has increased as a result of an expanding hospitalized and immunocompromised population. Phagocytes, such as neutrophils, dendritic cells, monocytes and macrophages, are crucial for resistance to candidiasis. During infection, these myeloid cells detect the microorganisms and microbial components by using pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), and are responsible for microbial killing, antigen processing and presentation to initiate the adaptive immune response, as well as for releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines to recruit and activate other leukocytes. C. albicans cells are sensed directly by myeloid cells through many PRRs including different members of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) and C-type lectin receptor (CLR) families (Luisa Gil et al., 2016; Lionakis and Levitz, 2017).

It has been known for a decade that, in addition to mature myeloid cells, hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) also express some functional PRRs. TLR signaling on hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) provokes cell cycle entry and myeloid differentiation (Nagai et al., 2006; Sioud et al., 2006; De Luca et al., 2009). This observation opened new perspectives on host-pathogen interactions concerning mechanisms responsible for emergency myelopoiesis during infection (Scumpia et al., 2010; King and Goodell, 2011; Yáñez et al., 2013a; Boettcher and Manz, 2017).

Our group has previously demonstrated that C. albicans induces proliferation of HSPCs and their differentiation toward the myeloid lineage both in vitro and in vivo (Yáñez et al., 2009, 2010, 2011; Megías et al., 2012, 2013). This response requires signaling through TLR2 and Dectin-1, and gives rise to functional macrophages that are able to internalize yeasts and secrete proinflammatory cytokines. These preliminary results indicated that self-/non-self-discrimination also occurs at the level of HSPCs, where PRR-mediated signaling may lead to reprogramming early progenitors to rapidly replenish the innate immune system and generate the most necessary mature cells to deal with the pathogen.

Moreover, using an in vitro model of HSPC differentiation, we have shown that detection of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by HSPCs impacts the antimicrobial function of the macrophages they produce (Yáñez et al., 2013b). Pure soluble TLR2 and TLR4 ligands generate macrophages with a diminished ability to produce inflammatory cytokines (tolerized macrophages), whereas HSPC activation in response to C. albicans leads to the generation of macrophages that produce higher levels of cytokines (trained macrophages) than control M-CSF-derived macrophages (Megías et al., 2016). In fact, the ability of macrophages to produce inflammatory cytokines is extremely dependent on how the HSPCs from which they are derived receive and integrate multiple microenvironmental signals; the tolerized or trained phenotype depends on the combination of signals they receive (PRRs and CSFs), as well as on the timing of the HSPC activation by the different stimuli (Martínez et al., 2017).

Recent studies have challenged the dogma that adaptive immunity is the only arm of the immune response with memory, demonstrating that innate immune cells (especially monocytes and macrophages) can display some memory characteristics (Goodridge et al., 2016; Netea et al., 2016). After first priming, the alteration of the innate immune system would be such that upon re-exposure to the same or heterologous stimuli, it would display a trained or tolerized response. For example, exposure of monocytes or macrophages to C. albicans enhances their subsequent response to stimulation (trained immunity), while TLR2 and TLR4 ligands confer a long-lasting reduced inflammatory cytokine production (tolerance) to macrophages. Therefore, our previous in vitro data (Yáñez et al., 2013b; Megías et al., 2016; Martínez et al., 2017) indicate that this concept of “innate immune memory” may apply not only to differentiated cells but also to HSPCs. Supporting this idea, it has been recently shown that intravenous vaccination with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin “educates” HSCs to generate trained monocytes/macrophages that protect mice against tuberculosis (Kaufmann et al., 2018).

Here, we extend our previous in vitro studies to an ex vivo model in order to demonstrate that systemic candidiasis or TLR2 agonist exposure in vivo impacts the antifungal phenotype of the macrophages produced in vitro from purified HSPCs. Moreover, sustained systemic exposure to a TLR2 agonist protects mice from systemic C. albicans infection, and leads to an expansion of spleen HSPCs and myeloid cells; this protection is abrogated by immunodepletion of expanded HSPCs, indicating their protective role against infection. In addition, HSPCs secrete several cytokines and chemokines in response to C. albicans and a TLR2 agonist (HSPC secretomes). These secretomes are capable of inducing HSPCs to differentiate into myeloid cells and modulating cytokine production by peritoneal macrophages. Taken together, these data indicate that HSPCs can sense pathogens during infection and contribute to protect the host by different mechanisms.

Materials and Methods

Mice

TLR2^−/− mice (C57BL/6 background) provided by Dr. Shizuo Akira (Osaka University, Osaka, Japan) were bred and maintained at the animal production service facilities (SCSIE, University of Valencia); wild-type C57BL/6 mice were purchased from Harlan Ibérica (Barcelona, Spain). Mice of both sexes between 8 and 12 weeks old were used. This study was carried out in strict accordance with the “Real Decreto 1201/2005, BOE 252” for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of the “Ministerio de la Presidencia,” Spain. All efforts were made to minimize suffering. The protocols were approved by the Committee on the Ethics of Animal Experiments of the University of Valencia, Generalitat Valenciana (Permit Numbers: 2017/VSC/PEA/00004; 00024; 00084).

Yeasts Strains and Preparation of Fungal Cells

Starved and inactivated C. albicans ATCC 26555 yeasts were prepared as previously described (Villamón et al., 2004; Martínez et al., 2017). Briefly, cells of C. albicans strain ATCC 26555 were grown in YPD medium (1% yeast extract, 2% peptone, 2% glucose) at 28°C up to the late exponential growth phase (A_600nm 0.6-1), collected and washed with water. Cells were resuspended in water, and maintained for 3 h at 28°C with shaking, and afterwards at 4°C during 48 h (starved yeast cells). Starved yeast cells were inoculated (200 μg dry weight of cells per ml) in a minimal synthetic medium, and incubated for 3 h at 28°C. For inactivation, yeast cells were resuspended (20 × 10⁶ cells/ml) in 4% paraformaldehyde (fixation buffer, eBioscience, San Diego, CA) and incubated for 1 h at room temperature. After treatment, fungal cells were extensively washed in PBS and brought to the desired cell density in cell culture medium.

Yeast cells of C. albicans PCA2, a low-virulence non-germinative strain, were grown in YPD medium at 28°C up to the late exponential growth phase, collected, washed in PBS, and brought to the desired cell density in complete cell culture medium (see below). All procedures were performed under conditions designed to minimize endotoxin contamination as described elsewhere (Villamón et al., 2004).

C. albicans Infection Model

WT control or Pam₃CSK₄-treated mice were injected intraperitoneally with 45 × 10⁶ or 30 × 10⁶ starved yeasts of C. albicans ATCC 26555 in 200 μl of PBS. To assess the tissue outgrowth of the microorganism, the fungal burden in the kidney and spleen at different days post-infection was determined. The organs were weighed, homogenized in 1 ml of PBS and dilutions of the homogenates were plated on Sabouraud dextrose agar. The colony forming units (CFUs) were counted after 24 h of incubation at 37°C, and expressed as CFUs per gram of tissue.

To study the effect of c-Kit-progenitor-cell depletion, 500 μg of the anti-c-Kit antibody ACK2 (eBioscence) or isotype control (rat IgG_2b, clone eB149/10H5, from eBioscence) were given to mice intraperitoneally 2 days before infection.

Isolation of Splenocytes and Peritoneal Macrophages

Splenocytes were obtained from control or Pam₃CSK₄-treated mice as described elsewhere (Murciano et al., 2007; Yáñez et al., 2011). Briefly, total spleen cells were obtained by collagenase D treatment of the organ, erythrocytes were lysed using ammonium chloride buffer (BD FACS™ lysing solution), and cells were washed and counted.

Resident peritoneal macrophages were harvested by instilling and withdrawing 10 ml of complete cell culture medium: RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 2 mM L-glutamine, 5% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum, and 1% penicillin-streptomycin stock solution (Gibco, Barcelona, Spain). Cells were washed once with the same medium, and plated at a density of 1.5 x 10⁵ cells in 200 μl of medium per well, in a 96 well tissue culture plate. Peritoneal macrophages were allowed to adhere for 5 h at 37°C in a 5 % CO₂ atmosphere, the non-adherent cells were removed, and the adherent macrophages were cultured for 72 h prior to be challenged with the indicated stimuli.

Purification of Lin⁻ Cells and ex vivo Differentiation

Lin⁻ cells were purified as previously described (Yáñez et al., 2011; Megías et al., 2012). Briefly, murine bone marrow (obtained by flushing the femurs and tibias) and spleen (obtained as above explained) were depleted of lineage-positive cells by immunomagnetic cell sorting (negative selection) using MicroBeads and a cocktail of antibodies against a panel of lineage antigens [CD5, CD45R (B220), CD11b, Gr-1 (Ly-6G/C), 7-4, and Ter-119] according to the manufacturer's instructions (Miltenyi Biotec, Madrid, Spain).

Purified cells were immediately cultured in complete cell culture medium supplemented with two cytokines: 20 ng/ml of stem cell factor (SCF, Peprotech, Rocky Hill, NJ) to support the survival of HSPCs, and 50 ng/ml of macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF, Miltenyi Biotec, Madrid, Spain) to induce their differentiation to macrophages. Where indicated, cultures also contained inactivated yeasts of C. albicans (1:7.5 murine cell:yeast ratio) as stimuli throughout the 7 days of culture. Adherent cells were harvested at day 7.

Obtaining of Secretomes Produced by Lin⁻ Cells

Lin⁻ cells were cultured in a serum-free medium (StemPro-34 SFM medium, Gibco, Barcelona, Spain), containing 2 mM L-glutamine, 1% penicillin-streptomycin stock solution, and two cytokines: 20 ng/ml of SCF and 100 ng/ml of Flt3 ligand (FL, Peprotech, Rocky Hill, NJ). Cells were cultured in 96-well plates at a density of 50,000 cells in 250 μl, and challenged for 72 h with the indicated stimuli [1 μg/ml of Pam₃CSK₄ or inactivated C. albicans yeasts (1:5 murine cell:yeast ratio)]. Then, secretomes (conditioned media) were collected and used for the different assays. The effect of secretomes from HSPCs stimulated with Pam₃CSK₄ was determined on HSPCs or peritoneal macrophages from TLR2^−/− mice.

Measurement of Cytokine Production

M-CSF macrophages were plated in 96-well plates at a density of 50,000 cells in 200 μl of complete cell culture medium. Splenocytes were plated in 24-well plates at a density of 2.5 × 10⁶ cells in 0.5 ml of complete cell culture medium. Cells were challenged with the indicated stimuli for 24 h and cell-free supernatants were then harvested and tested for TNF-α release using a commercial ELISA kit (eBioscience, San Diego, CA). The stimuli used were Pam₃CSK₄ (100 ng/ml), Ultrapure Escherichia coli LPS (100 ng/ml) (Invivogen, San Diego, CA), and inactivated yeasts of C. albicans (2 x 10⁶ yeasts/ml). Triplicate samples were analyzed in each assay.

TNF-α and IL-6 levels in the secretomes produced by HSPCs were measured using commercial ELISA kits (eBioscience, San Diego, CA). Moreover, levels of 40 cytokines were determined in the secretomes using a mouse cytokine array (RayBio Mouse inflammation antibody array C1) according to the manufacturer's instructions (RayBiotech, Norcross, GA).

C. albicans Killing Assay

The assay was performed with M-CSF-derived macrophages or with splenocytes. Macrophages were plated in 96-well plates at a density of 200,000 cells in 150 μl of complete cell culture medium. Macrophages were challenged with viable PCA2 yeasts at a 1:3 ratio (murine cell:yeast), settled onto the macrophages by centrifugation, and incubated for 1 h. As a control, C. albicans cells were inoculated in culture medium without murine cells. Splenocytes were plated in 24-well plates at a density of 2.5 × 10⁶ cells in 0.5 ml of complete cell culture medium. Splenocytes were challenged with 100,000 viable PCA2 yeasts settled onto the cells by centrifugation, and incubated for 4 h. As a control, C. albicans cells were inoculated in culture medium without murine cells.

After co-incubation, samples were diluted in water, plated on Sabouraud dextrose agar, and incubated overnight at 37°C to determine CFUs. Colonies were counted, and killing percentages were determined as follows: % killing = [1 – (CFUs sample at t = 1 or 4 h)/(CFUs control at t = 1 or 4 h)] × 100. A non-germinative strain (PCA2) was chosen for killing assays in order to facilitate determination of CFUs after the incubation period, as no germ tube (hyphae) aggregates are formed. Triplicate samples were analyzed in each assay.

Antibodies and Flow Cytometry Analyses

Cell suspensions were labeled with various combinations of antibodies, and analyzed by flow cytometry. The following antibodies were used in this study: PE-labeled anti-CD11b (clone M1/70 from eBioscience), PerCP-Cy5.5-labeled anti-MHC class II (clone M5/114.15.2 from BD Pharmigen), APC-Cy7-labeled anti-Ly6C (clone AL-21 from BD Pharmigen), BUV395-labeled anti-Ly6G (clone AL-21 from BD Pharmigen), APC-labeled anti-CD11c (clone N418 from Miltenyi Biotec), cocktail of biotinylated anti-lineage antigens [CD5, CD45R (B220), CD11b, Gr-1 (Ly-6G/C), 7-4, and Ter-119], and PE-labeled anti-biotin (clone REA746) both from Miltenyi Biotec, and PE-Vio770-labeled anti-c-Kit (clone 3C11 from Miltenyi Biotec).

Flow cytometry analyses were performed on a LSR Fortessa cytometer (BD Biosciences), and data were analyzed with FACSDiva and FlowJo 10 software.

Statistical Analysis

Statistical differences were determined using one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett's test for multiple comparisons and two-tailed Student's t-test for dual comparisons. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. Significance was accepted at *P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001, and **** P < 0.0001 levels.

Results

C. albicans Infection Impacts the Cytokine Production and the Fungicidal Activity of the ex vivo Produced Macrophages

We have previously reported that in vitro detection of TLR2 and Dectin-1 ligands (including inactivated yeasts of C. albicans) by HSPCs impacts the antimicrobial function of the macrophages they produce (Yáñez et al., 2013b; Megías et al., 2016; Martínez et al., 2017). The observed in vitro effect of C. albicans on HSPCs may be of biological relevance in vivo during infection. Therefore, we now sought to determine whether HSPCs may sense microorganisms in vivo using a mouse model of systemic candidiasis, and whether this may alter the function of the macrophages they produce ex vivo. C57BL/6 mice were infected via intraperitoneal injection of a virulent strain of C. albicans (45 × 10⁶ yeasts per mouse). At days 1 or 3 post-infection, Lin⁻ cells were purified from mice bone marrow and differentiated into macrophages in M-CSF cultures in the presence of 2.5 μg/ml of amphotericin B to prevent potential fungal growth. To assess the tissue outgrowth of the microorganism in infected mice, the fungal burden was determined in the kidney, the target organ in this invasive model of candidiasis (Figure 1A). The dose of yeasts injected resulted in a low and high number of CFUs at days 1 and 3, respectively. The ex vivo differentiated macrophages were counted and plated at equal cell numbers for stimulation with TLR agonists to assess their ability to produce TNF-α. Unstimulated macrophages served as negative controls. Cytokine production in response to Pam₃CSK₄ was significantly increased in macrophages generated from low-infected mice (day 1 post-infection) compared to macrophages generated from control uninfected mice, whereas macrophages generated from high-infected animals (day 3 post-infection) produced lower cytokine levels than control macrophages. TNF-α production in response to LPS was significantly diminished in macrophages generated from both low- and high-infected mice compared to control macrophages (Figure 1B).

FIGURE 1

Figure 1. C. albicans infection impacts the cytokine production and the fungicidal activity of the ex vivo produced macrophages. (A) Schematic protocol (as described in section Materials and Methods). WT mice were injected intraperitoneally with 45 × 10⁶ yeasts of C. albicans ATCC 26555. 1 or 3 days post-infection mice were sacrificed to assess the outgrowth of the yeasts in the kidney, and to isolate the bone marrow. Lin⁻ HSPCs were purified from bone marrow, plated at a density of 200,000 cells in 4 ml of culture medium containing SCF, M-CSF and amphotericin B, and incubated for 7 days to induce macrophage differentiation. (B) The fungal burden in the kidneys is expressed as CFUs per gram of tissue. For cytokine assays, macrophages were plated at a density of 50,000 cells in 200 μl of complete cell culture medium and challenged with Pam₃CSK₄ (100 ng/ml) or LPS (100 ng/ml) for 24 h. TNF-α levels in cell-free culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. For fungicidal activity determination, macrophages were plated at a density of 200,000 cells in 200 μl of complete cell culture medium and challenged with viable PCA2 yeasts at a 1:3 ratio (murine cell:yeast) for 1 h. C. albicans cells were also inoculated in culture medium without murine cells (control). After incubation, samples were diluted, plated on Sabouraud dextrose agar and incubated overnight at 37°C; CFUs were counted and killing percentages were determined as follows: % killing = [1 – (CFUs sample at t = 1 h)/(CFUs control at t = 1 h)] × 100. Triplicate samples were analyzed in each assay. Results are expressed as means ± SD of pooled data from two experiments. *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001, and ****P < 0.0001 with respect to macrophages derived from control uninfected mice.

To further characterize the antifungal function of Lin⁻-derived macrophages generated from infected animals, we measured the ability of differentiated cells to kill yeast cells in vitro. Macrophages were challenged with viable yeasts at a 1:3 ratio (murine cell:yeast) for 1 h, in order to determine their fungicidal activity. In these conditions, control macrophages were able to kill a significant percentage of yeasts, similar to macrophages obtained from high-infected mice. However, macrophages differentiated from HSPCs purified from low-infected animals possessed an increased fungicidal activity (roughly 80% as compared with 65% of killing by control macrophages; i.e., 23% greater than control macrophages) (Figure 1B).

Therefore, early during the infection, with low fungal burden levels, HSPCs give rise to macrophages trained in response to Pam₃CSK₄ and with higher fungicidal activity. Interestingly, when the infection reaches high fungal burden levels, Lin⁻-derived macrophages become tolerized, as they have a diminished ability to produce TNF-α, whereas they keep up their fungicidal capacity. These data collectively indicate that HSPCs sense the infection in vivo and this profoundly alters the functional phenotype of the macrophages ex vivo derived from them.

TLR2 Agonist Treatment in vivo Impacts the Cytokine Production and the Fungicidal Activity of the ex vivo Produced Macrophages

Next, we wondered whether in vivo exposure of HSPCs to Pam₃CSK₄ may alter the function of the macrophages they produce ex vivo. First, we used a short treatment model by intravenously injecting mice with one dose of the ligand. 24 h later, Lin⁻ cells were purified from the bone marrow, and cultured with M-CSF for macrophage differentiation in the presence or absence of inactivated C. albicans yeasts (Figure 2A). The harvested macrophages were then plated for stimulation with TLR agonists to assess their ability to produce TNF-α. The production of TNF-α in response to Pam₃CSK₄ or LPS was significantly diminished in macrophages generated from HSPCs exposed to the TLR2 ligand in vivo (tolerized macrophages), compared to control macrophages (differentiated from HSPCs purified from control mice) (Figure 2B, plain white and colored bars). As we have previously reported, in vitro HSPC differentiation in the presence of C. albicans leads to the generation of macrophages that produce higher levels of TNF-α (trained macrophages) (Figure 2B, grated white bars). Interestingly, differentiation of Lin⁻ cells (purified from Pam₃CSK₄-treated mice) in the presence of fungal stimuli partially reversed the tolerized phenotype (Figure 2B, grated colored bars), as macrophages produced higher cytokine levels than in vivo Pam₃CSK₄ tolerized macrophages (Figure 2B, plain colored bars) but still significantly minor amounts than control macrophages (Figure 2B, plain white bars). In addition, macrophages were challenged with viable yeasts in order to determine their fungicidal activity. Results show that the tolerized macrophages, generated from HSPCs exposed to the TLR2 ligand in vivo, have a diminished ability to kill yeast cells in vitro, as compared with control macrophages (Figure 2B). Therefore, a short in vivo exposure to a TLR2 agonist results in tolerized M-CSF-derived macrophages that can still respond to in vitro training by C. albicans yeasts, but that have decreased their fungicidal activity.

FIGURE 2

Figure 2. TLR2 agonist short treatment impacts the cytokine production and the fungicidal activity of the ex vivo produced macrophages. (A) Schematic protocol (as described in section Materials and Methods). WT mice were injected intravenously with 100 μg of Pam₃CSK₄ and Lin⁻ HSPCs were recovered from bone marrow on day 1 for ex vivo differentiation to macrophages. Lin⁻ cells were plated at a density of 200,000 cells in 4 ml of media containing SCF and M-CSF, and incubated for 7 days to induce macrophage production, in the presence or absence of inactivated yeasts of C. albicans (1:7.5 murine cell:yeast ratio). (B) For cytokine assays and fungicidal activity determination macrophages were plated and challenged as indicated in Figure 1B. Triplicate samples were analyzed in each assay. Results are expressed as means ± SD of pooled data from two experiments. *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001, and ****P < 0.0001 with respect to macrophages derived from control untreated mice, ^#P < 0.05 and ^###P < 0.001 with respect to cytokine production by macrophages derived from HSPCs differentiated with M-CSF only, in the absence of inactivated yeasts, and ^•P < 0.05, and ^•••P < 0.001 with respect to macrophages derived from control untreated mice.

These findings prompted us to investigate whether this macrophage phenotype, induced by a short systemic Pam₃CSK₄ exposure, may also occur after an extended TLR2 agonist treatment. For this purpose, we used a model previously described by Herman et al. (2016), for our ex vivo assays. C57BL/6 mice were given 100 μg of Pam₃CSK₄ by intraperitoneal injection at days 0, 3 and 5. One day (24 h) after the final dose (day 6) Lin⁻ cells were purified from the bone marrow and differentiated into macrophages with M-CSF, in the presence or absence of inactivated yeasts of C. albicans (Figure 3A). In this scenario of extended treatment with the TLR2 ligand, TNF-α production was significantly higher in response to Pam₃CSK₄ or LPS, compared to control macrophages (generated from HSPCs from control animals) (Figure 3B, plain white and colored bars). These trained macrophages, generated from HSPCs exposed to the TLR2 ligand in vivo, showed no significant differences in their ability to kill yeast cells in vitro, as compared with control macrophages (Figure 3B, plain white and colored bars). The presence of fungal cells during differentiation further increased the trained TNF-α response to Pam₃CSK₄, but not to LPS stimulation (Figure 3B, grated colored bars). Therefore, after an extended in vivo TLR2 agonist exposure, HSPCs give rise to trained M-CSF-derived macrophages, with a similar fungicidal activity than control macrophages.

FIGURE 3

Figure 3. Extended TLR2 agonist treatment impacts the cytokine production and the fungicidal activity of the ex vivo produced macrophages derived from bone marrow and spleen HSPCs. (A) Schematic protocol (as described in section Materials and Methods). WT mice were given 100 μg of Pam₃CSK₄ by intraperitoneal injection at days 0, 3, and 5 (3 doses), and 24 h after the final dose, mice were sacrificed to isolate the bone marrow and the spleen. Lin⁻ HSPCs purified from bone marrow and spleen were plated at a density of 200,000 cells in 4 ml of culture medium containing SCF and M-CSF, and incubated for 7 days to induce macrophage production, in the presence or absence of inactivated yeasts of C. albicans (1:7.5 murine cell:yeast ratio). (B) Cytokine production and fungicidal activity of macrophages derived from bone marrow HSPCs. Macrophages were plated and challenged as indicated in Figure 1. (C) Appearance and size of representative spleens from control (left) and treated (right) mice. Total leukocytes per spleen, and frequency and absolute numbers of Lin⁻ and c-Kit⁺ cells in the spleens, as determined by flow cytometry (n = 2 mice per treatment group). TNF-α production and fungicidal activity of macrophages derived from spleen HSPCs (macrophages were plated and challenged as indicated in Figure 1B). Triplicate samples were analyzed in each assay. Results are expressed as means ± SD of pooled data from two experiments. **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001 with respect to control macrophages derived from control untreated mice, and ^###P < 0.001 with respect to cytokine production by macrophages derived from HSPCs differentiated with M-CSF only, in the absence of inactivated yeasts.

As previously described by Herman et al. (2016), we observed that the spleens of treated mice were significantly enlarged and had a marked increase in leukocytes and HSPCs; the percentage and the total number of Lin⁻ c-Kit⁺ cells were significantly increased compared with control mice (Figure 3C, Supplementary Figure 1). Lin⁻ cells were also purified from spleen, incubated with M-CSF to induce macrophage differentiation, and cytokine production and fungicidal activity were assessed as indicated above. Macrophages differentiated from bone marrow HSPCs from control mice were used as controls since very few c-Kit⁺ cells were found in control spleens (Figure 3C, Supplementary Figure 1). The production of TNF-α in response to Pam₃CSK₄ was significantly higher in macrophages generated from spleen HSPCs exposed to the TLR2 ligand in vivo, compared to control macrophages. However, these trained macrophages, generated from spleen HSPCs exposed to the TLR2 ligand in vivo, were almost unable to kill yeasts in vitro (Figure 3C).

Our data indicate that HSPCs sense the TLR2 agonist in vivo, and that this profoundly alters the functional phenotype of the macrophages ex vivo derived from them. The ability of HSPC-derived macrophages to produce inflammatory cytokines is dependent on the extent of HSPC exposure to Pam₃CSK₄ challenge, as short exposure (one dose) generates tolerized macrophages, while an extended treatment (3 doses) confers a trained phenotype. Moreover, the fungicidal activity is lower for short exposure or similar for extended treatment, compared to control macrophages. Interestingly, spleen HSPCs give raise to macrophages with a very low fungicidal activity, although they show a trained cytokine response.

Extended TLR2 Agonist Treatment Induces Myeloid Cell Expansion in the Spleen, and Impacts the Cytokine Production and the Fungicidal Activity of Splenocytes

As extended treatment of mice with Pam₃CSK₄ caused relevant changes in the spleen (see Figure 3C), and we have previously shown that TLR2 ligands induce myeloid differentiation of HSPCs in vivo (Megías et al., 2012), we next examined the number (Figure 4B, Supplementary Figure 2) and functional phenotype (Figure 4C) of mature myeloid cells in the spleen of Pam₃CSK₄-treated mice. Treated mice showed a marked increase in mature myeloid cells in the spleen, as both the percentage and the total number of CD11b⁺ cells were significantly increased compared with control mice. This increase in CD11b⁺ cells stems from an increase in the absolute number of neutrophils, monocytes, classical dendritic cells and macrophages. Among all the increased cell types, the population that stood out the most was a population of macrophages (CD11b⁺, MHCII⁺, Ly6C⁻ and CD11c⁻) that raised from 1.5% in control mice to 13.6% in Pam₃CSK₄ treated mice (Figure 4B, Supplementary Figure 2). Next, we analyzed in vitro the cytokine production and the fungicidal activity of total splenocytes from control and Pam₃CSK₄-treated mice. The production of TNF-α in response to Pam₃CSK₄ or LPS was significantly diminished in total splenocytes from Pam₃CSK₄-treated mice compared to control mice splenocytes, indicating that mature myeloid cells in the spleen of treated mice are tolerized. Splenocytes from Pam₃CSK₄-treated mice showed higher fungicidal activity than splenocytes from control mice. This result correlates with the higher number of mature myeloid cells (mostly phagocytic cells) in the spleen of treated mice, but may also indicate a higher fungicidal activity of these cells due to the TLR2 ligand treatment. Therefore, after an extended in vivo TLR2 agonist exposure, myeloid cells in the spleen are expanded, tolerized and competent to kill C. albicans cells in vitro.

FIGURE 4

Figure 4. Extended TLR2 agonist treatment protects mice from systemic C. albicans infection, induces myeloid cell expansion in the spleen, and impacts the cytokine production and the fungicidal activity of splenocytes. (A) Schematic protocol (as described in section Materials and Methods). WT mice were given 100 μg of Pam₃CSK₄ by intraperitoneal injection at days 0, 3, and 5 (3 doses), and 24 h after the final dose, mice were injected intraperitoneally with 30 × 10⁶ yeasts of C. albicans ATCC 26555, or were sacrificed to isolate the spleen. Four days post-infection, mice were sacrificed to assess the outgrowth of the yeasts in the kidney and spleen. (B) Frequency and absolute numbers of myeloid cells per spleen as determined by flow cytometry (n = 2 mice per treatment group). Results are expressed as means ± SD of pooled data from two experiments. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.001 with respect to control mice. Nϕ, neutrophils; Mc, monocytes; Mph, macrophages; cDc, classical dentritic cells. (C) TNF-α production and fungicidal activity of splenocytes. Splenocytes were plated at a density of 2.5 × 10⁶ cells in 0.5 ml of complete cell culture medium. For cytokine assays, splenocytes were challenged with Pam₃CSK₄ (100 ng/ml) or LPS (100 ng/ml) for 24 h. TNF-α levels in cell-free culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. For fungicidal activity determination, splenocytes were challenged with 100,000 viable PCA2 yeasts and incubated for 4 h. C. albicans cells were also inoculated in culture medium without murine cells (control). After incubation, samples were diluted, plated on Sabouraud dextrose agar and incubated overnight at 37°C; CFUs were counted and killing percentages were determined as follows: % killing = [1 – (CFUs sample at t = 4 h)/(CFUs control at t = 4 h)] × 100. Triplicate samples were analyzed in each assay. Results are expressed as means ± SD of pooled data from two experiments. **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 and ****P < 0.0001 with respect to control cells (splenocytes from control mice). (D) The fungal burden in kidneys and spleens are expressed as CFUs per gram of tissue. Results are expressed as means ± SD of pooled data from two experiments (n = 2 mice each group per experiment). *P < 0.05 and ***P < 0.001 with respect to control mice (infected and not treated with the TLR2 agonist).

Extended TLR2 Agonist Treatment Reduces Tissue Invasion During Systemic C. albicans Infection

Given the marked effect of extended TLR2 agonist treatment on the phenotype of ex vivo produced macrophages, as well as on the accumulation of HSPCs and mature myeloid cells in the spleen, we next addressed the possibility that this treatment could influence the in vivo susceptibility to invasive candidiasis. C57BL/6 mice were given 100 μg of Pam₃CSK₄ by intraperitoneal injection at days 0, 3 and 5, and 24 h after the final dose, mice were infected via intraperitoneal injection (30 × 10⁶ yeasts per mouse) of a virulent strain of C. albicans (Figure 4A). Four days post-infection, fungal burden in the kidney and spleen were determined (Figure 4D). Pam₃CSK₄-treated mice showed a marked decrease in CFUs in both organs, as compared with infected control mice. This result clearly indicates that an extended TLR2 agonist treatment protects mice from tissue invasion during systemic C. albicans infection.

Immunodepletion of C-Kit⁺ Progenitors in TLR2 Agonist-Treated Mice Abrogates Protection Against Fungal Tissue Invasion During Candidiasis and Impacts the Cytokine Production by Splenocytes

To determine whether HSPCs are required for TLR2 agonist mediated protection against tissue invasion, we immunodepleted c-Kit⁺ progenitors in Pam₃CSK₄-treated mice before C. albicans infection. For this purpose, we used the monoclonal antibody ACK2, as it has previously been reported that the complete inhibition of c-Kit signaling by ACK2 administration in vivo leads to the rapid but transient depletion of bone marrow HSCs (95% depletion at 48 h post-injection, with a maximum of depletion at day 9, and a recovery to normal levels at day 23) (Czechowicz et al., 2007). Taking into account these data, in our model of extended TLR2 agonist treatment, mice were given 500 μg of ACK2 or its isotype control, by intraperitoneal injection, at day 4 (48 h before infection) (Figure 5A). As shown in Supplementary Figure 3, the injection of ACK2 at day 4 results in a significant reduction of Lin⁻ c-Kit⁺ progenitors at day 6, both in the bone marrow (roughly 56% reduction) and in the spleen (roughly 75% reduction) as compared with isotype control injected animals. Despite of HSPCs depletion, similar amounts of mature myeloid cells were found in the spleen of immunodepleted mice compared to isotype control injected mice (data not shown).

FIGURE 5

Figure 5. Immunodepletion of c-Kit⁺ progenitors in TLR2 agonist-treated mice abrogates protection against candidiasis and impacts the cytokine production by splenocytes. (A) Schematic protocol (as described in section Materials and Methods). WT mice were given 100 μg of Pam₃CSK₄ by intraperitoneal injection at days 0, 3, and 5 (3 doses), and 500 μg of the anti-c-Kit antibody or isotype control at day 4. 24 h after the final dose of Pam₃CSK₄, mice were injected intraperitoneally with 30 × 10⁶ yeasts of C. albicans ATCC 26555, or were sacrificed to isolate the spleen. Four days post-infection mice were sacrificed to assess the outgrowth of the yeasts in the kidney and spleen. (B) The fungal burden in kidneys and spleens are expressed as CFUs per gram of tissue. Results are expressed as means ± SD of pooled data from two experiments (n = 2 mice each group per experiment). *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01 with respect to control mice (treated with the TLR2 agonist and isotype control). (C) TNF-α production and fungicidal activity of splenocytes. Splenocytes were plated at a density of 2.5 × 10⁶ cells in 0.5 ml of complete cell culture medium. For cytokine assays, splenocytes were challenged with LPS (100 ng/ml) or inactivated yeasts of C. albicans (2 × 10⁶ yeasts/ml) for 24 h. TNF-α levels in cell-free culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. For fungicidal activity determination, splenocytes were challenged with 100,000 viable PCA2 yeasts and incubated for 4 h. After incubation, samples were diluted, plated on Sabouraud dextrose agar and incubated overnight at 37°C; CFUs were counted and killing percentages were determined as follows: % killing = [1 – (CFUs sample at t = 4 h)/(CFUs control at t = 4 h)] × 100. Triplicate samples were analyzed in each assay. Results are expressed as means ± SD of pooled data from two experiments. ***P < 0.001 and ****P < 0.0001 with respect to control cells (splenocytes from control mice), and ^###P < 0.001 and ^####P < 0.0001 with respect to cytokine production by splenocytes from mice treated with the TLR2 agonist and isotype control.

We then assessed the fungal burden in the kidney and spleen 4 days post infection (Figure 5B). ACK2-treated mice showed a marked increase in CFUs in both organs, as compared with isotype control injected mice, clearly demonstrating that depletion of c-Kit⁺ progenitors in Pam₃CSK₄-treated mice abrogates protection against tissue invasion during invasive candidiasis. Therefore, we conclude that the TLR2 agonist induced protection against candidiasis is at least partially mediated by the expansion of hematopoietic progenitors.

In vitro cytokine production and fungicidal activity of total splenocytes from control and c-Kit depleted mice were also analyzed (Figure 5C). As expected, mature myeloid cells in the spleen of Pam₃CSK₄-treated mice were tolerized, as the production of TNF-α in response to LPS or inactivated yeasts was significantly diminished in total splenocytes from Pam₃CSK₄-treated mice compared to splenocytes from control (untreated) mice. Interestingly, splenocytes from c-Kit depleted animals produced significantly higher amounts of TNF-α than the isotype control treated mice splenocytes, although still lower levels than splenocytes from control (untreated) mice. The increased splenocyte fungicidal activity induced by the Pam₃CSK₄ treatment was similar in c-Kit depleted mice and isotype control injected mice. In conclusion, depletion of c-Kit⁺ progenitors in Pam₃CSK₄-treated mice increases the cytokine production by splenocytes without modifying their potentiated fungicidal activity.

HSPCs Produce Cytokines and Chemokines in Response to C. albicans and Pam₃CSK₄

The above described findings indicate that HSPCs sense the TLR2 agonist and C. albicans yeasts in vivo, and subsequently may contribute to protect the host against candidiasis. These results prompted us to investigate potential mechanisms through which HSPCs could protect mice against infection. Since it has been described that HSPCs produce cytokines in response to LPS and Pam₃CSK₄ (Zhao et al., 2014), we profiled the molecules secreted by HSPCs in response to C. albicans yeasts and Pam₃CSK₄. Lin⁻ cells were cultured in a serum-free medium, in the absence (control) or presence of inactivated yeasts or Pam₃CSK₄, and 3 days later the culture supernatants (secretomes) were collected and analyzed (Figure 6A). First, TNF-α and IL-6 levels were measured in the secretomes using quantitative ELISAs (Figure 6B). The levels of cytokines in control secretome were undetectable. Consistent with a previous report (Zhao et al., 2014) HSPCs produced IL-6 in response to the TLR2 ligand. IL-6 and high amounts of TNF-α were produced in response to inactivated C. albicans yeasts. Next, 40 cytokines were determined in the secretomes using a mouse cytokine detection array (Figure 6C, Supplementary Figure 4). Representative cytokine array blots are shown in Supplementary Figure 4. Figure 6C show values of the relative intensity compared to array positive controls; only those cytokines whose values were significantly different among secretomes are depicted. The results showed that HSPCs produce three chemokines, CCL2, CCL3, and CCL9, in response to the TLR2 ligand, while only CCL3 and CCL9 were higher in the yeast secretome, compared to control secretome. Overall, these data demonstrate that HSPCs are capable of producing proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in response to different PRR ligands.

FIGURE 6

Figure 6. Cytokine production by HSPCs in response to C. albicans and the TLR2 agonist. (A) Schematic protocol (as described in section Materials and Methods) to obtain secretomes. WT Lin⁻ cells were cultured at a density of 50,000 cells in 250 μl of a serum-free medium containing FL and SCF, in the presence or absence of Pam₃CSK₄ or inactivated C. albicans yeasts for 3 days. Then, secretomes (conditioned media) were collected. (B) TNF-α and IL-6 levels in the secretomes were measured by ELISA. (C) CCL2, CCL3, and CCL9 levels were determined using a mouse cytokine array (as described in section Materials and Methods). Data are expressed as means ± SD of pooled data from two experiments. **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, and ****P < 0.0001 with respect to control secretome.

HSPC Secretomes in Response to C. albicans and TLR2 Agonist Induce Myeloid Differentiation and Modulate Macrophage Cytokine Production

The above data demonstrate that HSPCs produce and secrete diverse cytokines in response to a TLR2 agonist and C. albicans yeasts. Hence, we wondered whether the secretomes may play some role in regulating the function of surrounding cells, such as HSPCs or resident macrophages. First, we examined the effect of secretomes on HSPC differentiation (Figures 7A,B). To study the effects of secretomes from Pam₃CSK₄- stimulated HSPCs, we used cells from TLR2^−/− mice to avoid stimulation by soluble Pam₃CSK₄ present in the secretomes. Lin⁻ cells were cultured in the presence of secretomes for 3 days, and expression of CD11b (a marker of myeloid differentiation) and c-Kit (a marker of progenitor cells) was analyzed by flow cytometry. Lin⁻ cells were also cultured with LPS or inactivated yeasts, as positive controls of differentiation. The differentiation pattern in the presence of control secretomes was similar to the control samples (cells cultured in fresh medium). However, Lin⁻ cells cultured in the presence of Pam₃CSK₄ secretomes or yeast secretomes increased the percentage of CD11b⁺ cells, as compared to the control secretomes (42 vs. 22.5%, for the Pam₃CSK₄ secretomes, and 35.7 vs. 23.9% for the yeast secretomes). Accordingly, the percentage of c-Kit⁺ cells decreased as compared to the control secretomes (21.3 vs. 31.1% for the Pam₃CSK₄ secretomes, and 27.9 vs. 39.3% for the yeast secretomes). Therefore, HSPC secretomes in response to C. albicans and the TLR2 agonist induce myeloid differentiation of Lin⁻ progenitors.

FIGURE 7

Figure 7. HSPC secretomes in response to C. albicans and the TLR2 agonist induce myeloid differentiation and modulate cytokine production by macrophages. (A) Schematic protocol (as described in section Materials and Methods) to study the effect of secretomes (obtained as indicated in Figure 5A) on HSPC differentiation and the production of TNF-α by peritoneal macrophages. HSPCs or peritoneal macrophages from TLR2 ^−/− mice were used to study the effect of the secretomes from HSPCs stimulated with Pam₃CSK₄. (B) Lin⁻ cells were cultured at a density of 50,000 cells in 250 μl of secretomes for 3 days, labeled with antibodies, and analyzed by flow cytometry. Cells were gated as c-Kit or CD11b positive cells. The indicated percentages refer to total analyzed cells. Results shown are from one representative of two independent experiments. (C) Resident peritoneal macrophages were cultured at a density of 150,000 cells in 250 μl of the indicated secretomes, and challenged with Pam₃CSK₄ (100 ng/ml) or LPS (100 ng/ml) for 24 h. TNF-α levels in cell-free culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. Triplicate samples were analyzed in each assay. Results are expressed as means ± SD of pooled data from two experiments. ***P < 0.001 with respect to cytokine production by peritoneal macrophages in the presence of control secretome.

Finally, we studied the effect of secretomes on the cytokine production by tissue resident macrophages (Figures 7A,C). Resident peritoneal macrophages from TLR2^−/− mice or wild-type C57BL/6 mice were used to test the Pam₃CSK₄ secretome or the yeast secretome, respectively. TNF-α production in response to LPS was significantly decreased in the presence of the Pam₃CSK₄ secretome, whereas the yeast secretome had no effect on the cytokine production by macrophages in response to Pam₃CSK₄ or LPS.

Taken together, these results show that detection of PAMPs by HSPCs defines the secretome they produce, and therefore its impact on HSPC differentiation and macrophage function. These results support the idea that direct pathogen sensing by HSPCs plays an active role in regulating the immune responses against infection.

Discussion

We have previously reported that PRR-mediated recognition of C. albicans by HSPCs, both in vitro and in vivo, induces myeloid differentiation, and therefore may help replace or increase cells that constitute the first line of defense against fungus (Yáñez et al., 2009, 2010, 2011; Megías et al., 2013). The direct interaction of C. albicans with HSPCs may involve yeast cells and/or fungal derived PAMPs in the bone marrow. In a previous report we demonstrated the presence of viable yeasts in the bone marrow of mice infected with a low virulence strain (Yáñez et al., 2011), and it is well known that some fungal PAMPs such as mannan and glucan are present in the blood of patients with systemic candidiasis (López-Ribot et al., 2004; Ostrosky-Zeichner et al., 2005). In addition this interaction may also occur outside the bone marrow, as HSPCs may be mobilized in response to inflammation and or infection (Yáñez et al., 2013a). However, to elucidate whether this new mechanism by which HSPCs sense pathogens may be protective, the study of the functional properties of the generated myeloid cells is essential. In this context, our previous in vitro studies have shown that detection of PAMPs by HSPCs impacts the antimicrobial function of the macrophages they produce (Megías et al., 2016; Martínez et al., 2017). HSPC activation in response to C. albicans leads to the generation of inflammatory macrophages better prepared to deal with the infection: they produce higher levels of cytokines and are better at killing yeasts than M-CSF-derived macrophages produced in homeostatic conditions. These in vitro results suggest that the concept of “trained innate immunity” may apply not only to differentiated cells but also to HSPCs (Megías et al., 2016).

In this work, we used an ex vivo model to further investigate whether HSPCs may sense C. albicans during infection in vivo, and whether this impacts the antimicrobial function of the macrophages they produce in vitro. We have shown here that early during candidiasis, the ex vivo cultured HSPCs give rise to macrophages with a trained phenotype in their cytokine response to a TLR2 ligand and with a higher fungicidal activity. However, when the infection progresses to high fungal burden levels, the ex vivo HSPCs-derived macrophages become tolerized in their cytokine response, while they keep up their fungicidal capacity. We can deduce from the phenotype of the generated macrophages that this could be beneficial for the host during infection. In the first stages of the infection, inflammatory cytokines and phagocytes with high fungicidal capacity are needed, whereas when the fungal invasion progresses, a “cytokine storm” could be harmful, and therefore the macrophages generated are tolerized. The reasons for the opposite responses (training or tolerance) during infection are not obvious. However, it can be speculated that it could be related to the increasing pathogen loads during infection, to the progressive tissue damage and/or impairment of immune cell function, which shift from fighting the pathogen (training) toward maintenance and repair activities leading probably toward a phenotype of tolerance to pathogen. The fact that pathogen dose plays a key role in determining hormetic responses has been recently proposed for mature innate immune cells (Bauer et al., 2018). Our results suggest that this hormetic response also occurs in HSPCs during infection. The tolerized response would only develop when the early trained response is not able to deal with the infection and, therefore, pathogen burden increases. Although the in vitro generated phenotype in our ex vivo model may not exactly reproduce the in vivo situation, our results clearly indicate that HSPCs sense the infection in vivo, which profoundly alters the functional phenotype of the macrophages derived from them ex vivo.

In the opposite direction to trained immunity, Pam₃CSK₄ tolerized phenotype in macrophages is a well-known mechanism that avoids sustained activation, which can be detrimental to the host (Medvedev et al., 2006). Our previous studies have shown that macrophages produced by HSPCs exposed to Pam₃CSK₄, prior to or during macrophage differentiation, exhibit a reduced inflammatory cytokine response, demonstrating that Pam₃CSK₄-induced tolerance also occurs in HSPCs (Yáñez et al., 2013b; Megías et al., 2016; Martínez et al., 2017). Moreover, fungal ligands partially reversed the Pam₃CSK₄ tolerized phenotype of M-CSF-derived macrophages in vitro (Martínez et al., 2017). Now, we show that a short systemic TLR2 agonist exposure in vivo results in tolerized HSPCs-derived macrophages ex vivo and that the development of this tolerized phenotype is partially reversed by C. albicans yeasts during the in vitro differentiation culture. Therefore, this ex vivo model is consistent with our previously reported in vitro results (Megías et al., 2016; Martínez et al., 2017). However, an extended systemic TLR2 agonist exposure in vivo generates HSPC-derived macrophages that produce higher amounts of cytokines (trained macrophages) than control macrophages. This extended TLR2 agonist exposure leads to an expansion of spleen HSPCs, as previously described by Herman et al. (2016). These spleen HSPCs, similarly to bone marrow HSPCs, also generate in vitro trained macrophages. Therefore, the ex vivo tolerized or trained phenotype depends on the dose and timing of the signals (direct TLR2-mediated signaling and cytokines released by different cell types in response to Pam₃CSK₄) that HSPCs receive in vivo. It should be noted that the TLR2 agonist exposure and C. albicans infection are not comparable models. Therefore, the observed opposite responses of HSPCs to Pam₃CSK₄, switching from tolerance (one dose) to training (extended exposure), cannot be related to pathogen load, as the response to Pam₃CSK₄ involves only one PRR (TLR2) and occurs in the absence of deleterious effects associated to infection. Interestingly, mature myeloid cells are tolerized in the spleen of these animals, probably due to the direct effect of the in vivo administrated TLR2 ligand on mature macrophages. In addition, the fungicidal activity of the ex vivo generated macrophages was also dependent on the dose and timing of the signals that HSPCs receive in vivo, as well as on the source of the HSPCs (bone marrow or spleen). Even though there is not a clear relationship between tolerized or trained macrophages and their killing activity.

These results demonstrate that the memory-like innate immune training or tolerance, already described for monocytes and macrophages, also occurs in HSPCs, and suggest that the tailored manipulation of these responses may serve as an immunotherapeutic approach to boost the innate immune response to infection. These memory-like innate immune responses probably also occur during infections other than candidiasis, and development of training or tolerance may depend on the severity and time-course of infection (microbial burden and associated deleterious effects), as well as on the PAMPs expressed by specific pathogens.

The relationship between the ex vivo phenotype of the generated macrophages and their role during infection is not obvious. Therefore, it is difficult to predict the influence of extended Pam₃CSK₄ treatment on the susceptibility to infection. We hypothesized that the substantial accumulation of HSPCs and mature myeloid cells in the spleen could protect mice against candidiasis, and that HSPCs may contribute to this protection, probably by providing an additional site for the generation of effector cells during infection. Results clearly indicate that the extended TLR2 agonist treatment strongly protects mice from tissue invasion during systemic C. albicans infection, as the fungal burden in the kidney and in the spleen was drastically reduced. Myeloid cells expand in the spleen of Pam₃CSK₄ treated mice, being macrophages the most amplified population; therefore, it would be possible to suggest that these myeloid cells could be responsible for protection. However, immunodepletion of c-Kit⁺ progenitors in TLR2 agonist-treated mice abrogates protection against tissue invasion during candidiasis, despite their similar amount of mature myeloid cells in the spleen at the moment of infection, than isotype control injected mice. In conclusion, the protective effect against candidiasis in Pam₃CSK₄-treated mice is at least partially dependent on HSPCs. These results are in line with Granick et al. (2013), which reported that proliferation of HSPCs in skin wounds in response to Staphylococcus aureus is TLR2-mediated and contributes significantly to the production of neutrophils and resolution of local infection, supporting a role for TLR2 signaling in the regulation of extramedullary hematopoiesis. Other authors have also described that systemic infection of mice with Escherichia coli causes mobilization of functional HSPCs to the spleen, and that mobilized HSPCs give rise to neutrophils and monocytes and contribute to limiting secondary infection (Burberry et al., 2014). The possibility that protection against candidiasis in our model of Pam₃CSK₄-treated mice may be also mediated by mature myeloid cells cannot be completely excluded. Supporting this possibility, Wang et al. (2003) have shown that tolerance induced by one dose of a TLR2 ligand protects mice against live S. aureus and Salmonella typhimurium and they suggested that this protection is mediated by an increased bacterial recognition and bactericidal activity of neutrophils and macrophages in these mice.

A growing body of evidence has emerged supporting a role for HSPCs in the fight against infection, yet mechanisms governing the response of HSPCs to infection are poorly understood (Yáñez et al., 2013a; Kobayashi et al., 2016; Boettcher and Manz, 2017). Various mechanisms are involved in HSPCs responses to infection, including cytokine signaling, egressing to peripheral tissues, and direct sensing of PAMPs by HSPCs themselves (Kobayashi et al., 2016). The effector mechanisms of HSPCs for protection against candidiasis in the Pam₃CSK₄-treated mice are not well defined yet, although our data point toward the involvement of diverse mechanisms. In agreement with Zhao et al. (2014), we confirm here that HSPCs are capable of directly responding to TLR ligands by producing cytokines to coordinate immune responses. Moreover, we show for the first time that HSPCs also produce the CCL2, CCL3 and CCL9 chemokines in response to different PRRs ligands. Chemokines involved in the early recruitment of innate immune cells to the sites of infection are crucial for local control of fungal infections (Lionakis and Levitz, 2017). Consequently, CCL2, CCL3, and CCL9 produced by HSPCs may activate and attract neutrophils, monocytes and dendritic cells, therefore contributing to another level of protection against infection. Moreover, it has been described that HSPCs express CCR2 and that this receptor mediates recruitment of these HSPCs to sites of inflammation (Si et al., 2010), therefore it could be speculated that HSPCs may induce their own recruitment. In addition, we show that HSPCs secretomes produced in response to the TLR2 ligand and C. albicans yeasts induce Lin⁻ myeloid differentiation. Zhao et al. (2014) described that among the cytokines produced by HSPCs in response to LPS and Pam₃CSK₄, IL-6 is a particularly important regulator of myeloid differentiation. Our results suggest that other secreted molecules by HSPCs in response to C. albicans may induce myeloid differentiation, as IL-6 was barely found in the yeast secretome. Secretomes acting in a paracrine or autocrine manner on HSPCs may mediate a rapid myeloid cell recovery during candidiasis. Finally, in addition to acting on HSPCs, secretomes may also modulate the function of other surrounding cells, such as macrophages. In this context, we found that the Pam₃CSK₄ secretome reduces the TNF-α production by peritoneal macrophages. In agreement with this in vitro effect, the production of cytokines by splenocytes from c-Kit⁺ depleted mice is increased as compared to isotype control treated mice. Therefore, the Pam₃CSK₄-mobilized HSPCs may contribute to protection against infection, not only by myeloid cell replenishment but also by secreting molecules that recruit and activate leukocytes, and modulate the phenotype of mature myeloid cells. Future studies will be required to identify the molecules and the mechanisms responsible for the different secretome functions.

In conclusion, our data show that HSPCs sense candidiasis and this profoundly alters the functional phenotype of the macrophages ex vivo derived from them. Extended systemic exposure to TLR2 agonist leads to an expansion of spleen HSPCs that are, at least partially, responsible for protection against tissue invasion during systemic C. albicans infection. HSPCs produce cytokines and chemokines in response to C. albicans and TLR2 agonist, and these secreted molecules induce myeloid differentiation of HSPCs and modulate cytokine production by peritoneal macrophages. Our results support the hypothesis that HSPCs can sense pathogens during infection and contribute to protect the host by several mechanisms. A better understanding of the signals that influence HSPCs during infection may lead to new therapeutic strategies for anti-infection intervention.

Author Contributions

MG and DG designed the study. AM, CB, and JM performed the experiments. AM, JM, AY, MG, and DG analyzed and interpreted data. MG and DG wrote the manuscript. All the authors read, revised, and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Funding

This work was supported by grant SAF2014-53823-P (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain). AM is the recipient of a predoctoral fellowship (Atracció de talent) from the University of Valencia.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the SCSIE (Servicio Central de Soporte a la Investigación Experimental) of the University of Valencia, for technical assistance.

Supplementary Material

The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2018.00309/full#supplementary-material

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