Acute Lung Injury and Repair Induced by Single Exposure of <i>Aspergillus Fumigatus</i> in Immunocompetent Mice

Abstract

<b>Aim:</b> Characterize the course of acute <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> lung infection in immunocompetent mice, investigating the immunological, pathological and tissue functional modifications. <b>Materials & methods:</b> C57BL/6 mice were intranasally infected with <i>A. fumigatus</i> conidia and euthanized to access inflammatory parameters. <b>Results:</b> Mice infected with <i>A. fumigatus</i> showed an inoculum-dependent lethality and body weight loss. An intense proinflammatory cytokine release, neutrophil infiltrate and pulmonary dysfunction was also observed in the early phase of infection. In the late phase of infection, proresolving mediators release, apoptosis and efferocytosis increased and lung tissue architecture is restored. <b>Conclusion:</b> Our study characterized an immunocompetent model of acute pulmonary <i>Aspergillus</i> infection in mice and opened an array of possibilities for investigations on interactions of <i>A. fumigatus</i> with host-immune system.