Acquired resistance or tolerance? – in search of mechanisms underlying changes in the resistance profile of Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis as a result of exposure to methotrexate
Katarzyna Góralska , Małgorzata Szybka , Filip Franciszek Karuga , Dorota Pastuszak-Lewandoska , Ewa Brzeziańska-Lasota
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of fungal strains showing acquired resistance and multidrug resistance is an increasing therapeutic problem, especially in patients with a severely weakened immune system and undergoing chemotherapy. What is also extremely disturbing is the similarity of the resistance mechanisms of fungal cells and other eukaryotic cells, including human cells, which may contribute to the development of cross-resistance in fungi in response to substances used in e.g. anticancer treatment. An example of such a drug is methotrexate, which is pumped out of eukaryotic cells by ABC transmembrane transporters - in fungi, used to remove azoles from fungal cells.
For this reason, the aim of the study was to analyze the expression levels of genes: ERG11, MDR1 and CDR1, potentially responsible for the occurrence of cross-resistance in Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis as a result of fungal exposure to methotrexate (MTX).
In vitro exposure of C. albicans and C. parapsilosis strains to methotrexate showed a high increase in resistance to fluconazole and a partial increase in resistance to voriconazole. Analysis of the expression of resistance genes showed varied responses of the tested strains depending on the species. In the case of C. albicans, an increase in the expression of the MDR1 gene was observed, and a decrease in ERG11 and CDR1. However, for C. parapsilosis there was an increase in the expression of the CDR1 gene and a decrease in ERG11 and MDR1.
We noted the relationship between the level of resistance to voriconazole and the level of ERG11 gene expression in C. albicans. This indicates that this type of relationship is different for each species. Our research confirms that the mechanisms by which fungi acquire resistance and develop cross-resistance are highly complex and most likely involve several pathways simultaneously. The emergence of multidrug resistance may be related to the possibility of developing tolerance to antimycotics by fungi.
期刊介绍:
The Journal de Mycologie Medicale / Journal of Medical Mycology (JMM) publishes in English works dealing with human and animal mycology. The subjects treated are focused in particular on clinical, diagnostic, epidemiological, immunological, medical, pathological, preventive or therapeutic aspects of mycoses. Also covered are basic aspects linked primarily with morphology (electronic and photonic microscopy), physiology, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, immunochemistry, genetics, taxonomy or phylogeny of pathogenic or opportunistic fungi and actinomycetes in humans or animals. Studies of natural products showing inhibitory activity against pathogenic fungi cannot be considered without chemical characterization and identification of the compounds responsible for the inhibitory activity.
JMM publishes (guest) editorials, original articles, reviews (and minireviews), case reports, technical notes, letters to the editor and information. Only clinical cases with real originality (new species, new clinical present action, new geographical localization, etc.), and fully documented (identification methods, results, etc.), will be considered.
Under no circumstances does the journal guarantee publication before the editorial board makes its final decision.
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