BACKGROUND Paracoccidioides spp. causes paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), an important and frequent systemic mycosis that occurs in Latin America. The infectious process begins with contact between the fungus and lung cells, and the molecular pattern of this interaction is currently poorly understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate the gene expression in many biological processes, including in the infections. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to analyse the expression of miRNAs in lung cells as response to infection by Paracoccidioides spp. METHODS A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) based screening was employed to verify differentially expressed miRNAs in human lung cells infected with three different species; Paracoccidioides lutzii, Paracoccidioides americana, and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Furthermore, the in silico predictions of target genes and pathways for miRNAs were obtained. FINDINGS The results showed that miRNAs identified in the lung cells were different according to the species studied. However, based on the predicted targets, the potential signaling pathways regulated by miRNAs are common and related to adhesion, actin cytoskeleton rearrangement, apoptosis, and immune response mediated by T cells and TGF-β. MAIN CONCLUSIONS In summary, this study showed the miRNAs pattern of epithelial cells in response to infection by Paracoccidioides species and the potential role of these molecules in the regulation of key pathogenesis mechanisms of PCM.

中文翻译：

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真菌与宿主的相互作用：洞察拟球菌属物种对microRNA的了解。

背景技术副球菌属。会引起副球菌病（PCM），这是在拉丁美洲发生的重要且频繁发生的全身性真菌病。感染过程始于真菌与肺细胞之间的接触，目前尚不清楚这种相互作用的分子模式。微小RNA（miRNA）是小的非编码RNA，可在许多生物学过程（包括感染）中调节基因表达。目的本研究旨在分析肺细胞中miRNA的表达，以作为对副球菌感染的反应。方法采用基于实时定量聚合酶链反应（RT-qPCR）的筛查方法，以验证感染了三种不同物种的人肺细胞中差异表达的miRNA。Lutzii的对虾，美国的对虾和巴西的对虾。此外，获得了靶基因和miRNA途径的计算机模拟预测。结果结果表明，根据所研究的物种，在肺细胞中鉴定出的miRNA不同。然而，基于预测的靶标，miRNA调控的潜在信号通路是常见的，并且与粘附，肌动蛋白细胞骨架重排，细胞凋亡以及T细胞和TGF-β介导的免疫反应有关。主要结论总之，本研究显示了上皮细胞对拟南芥种感染的应答中的miRNA模式，以及这些分子在PCM关键发病机制调控中的潜在作用。研究结果表明，根据所研究的物种，在肺细胞中鉴定出的miRNA不同。然而，基于预测的靶标，miRNA调控的潜在信号通路是常见的，并且与粘附，肌动蛋白细胞骨架重排，细胞凋亡以及T细胞和TGF-β介导的免疫反应有关。主要结论总之，本研究显示了上皮细胞对拟南芥种感染的应答中的miRNA模式，以及这些分子在PCM关键发病机制调控中的潜在作用。研究结果表明，根据所研究的物种，在肺细胞中鉴定出的miRNA不同。然而，基于预测的靶标，miRNA调控的潜在信号通路是常见的，并且与粘附，肌动蛋白细胞骨架重排，细胞凋亡以及T细胞和TGF-β介导的免疫反应有关。主要结论总之，本研究显示了上皮细胞对拟南芥种感染的应答中的miRNA模式，以及这些分子在PCM关键发病机制调控中的潜在作用。