UCSF

Cryptococcus neoformans is the leading cause of fungal meningitis and is characterized by pathogenic eosinophil accumulation in the context of type-2 inflammation. The chemoattractant receptor GPR35 is expressed by granulocytes and promotes their migration to the inflammatory mediator 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), a serotonin metabolite. Given the inflammatory nature of cryptococcal infection, we examined the role of GPR35 in the circuitry underlying cell recruitment to the lung. GPR35 deficiency dampened eosinophil recruitment and fungal growth, whereas overexpression promoted eosinophil homing to airways and fungal replication. Activated platelets and mast cells were the sources of GPR35 ligand activity and pharmacological inhibition of serotonin conversion to 5-HIAA, or genetic deficiency in 5-HIAA production by platelets and mast cells resulted in more efficient clearance of Cryptococcus. Thus, the 5-HIAA-GPR35 axis is an eosinophil chemoattractant receptor system that modulates the clearance of a lethal fungal pathogen, with implications for the use of serotonin metabolism inhibitors in the treatment of fungal infections.