In the airways, the adhesion of Cryptococcus neoformans with airway epithelial cells is crucial for the establishment of cryptococcosis. Tobacco smoke is considered a risk factor for cryptococcosis. Here, we evaluated the effects of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) stimulated with C. neoformans. Multiplicities of infection (MOIs) of 1–100 of C. neoformans per cell led to increased IL-8 production and no cytotoxic effects when compared to those of controls. C. neoformans (MOI 100) also significantly increased the concentration of IL-6. In cells stimulated with CSE doses (1.0, 2.5 and 5.0%) from one or five cigarettes, increased IL-1β production was observed only in doses from one (1.0%) and five (2.5%) cigarettes when compared to that of controls. However, only 1.0% CSE failed to show cytotoxic effects. In addition, CSE significantly increased the concentration of IL-8. Cells stimulated with both CSE and C. neoformans demonstrated a reduction in IL-6/STAT3 signalling compared to that in cells stimulated by C. neoformans. In addition, a significant increase in IL-10 production was also observed. No alterations in NF-kB or ICAM-1 expression were observed among the groups. The combination of CSE and C. neoformans favoured the increase of fungal numbers and extracellular adhering of C. neoformans on BEAS-2B cells. In addition, the internalization of C. neoformans on BEAS-2B cells was reduced after CSE stimulation. In conclusion, the association of CSE and C. neoformans induced an anti-inflammatory effect in bronchial epithelial cells, which might favour the development of C. neoformans infection in the airways.

在气道中，新生隐球菌与气道上皮细胞的粘附对于隐球菌病的建立至关重要。烟草烟雾被认为是隐球菌病的危险因素。在这里，我们评估了香烟烟雾提取物 (CSE) 对用新型念珠菌刺激的人支气管上皮细胞 (BEAS-2B) 的影响。与对照组相比，每个细胞1-100 个新型隐球菌的感染复数 (MOI)导致 IL-8 产生增加，并且没有细胞毒性作用。隐球菌(MOI 100) 也显着增加了 IL-6 的浓度。在用来自一支或五支香烟的 CSE 剂量（1.0、2.5 和 5.0%）刺激的细胞中，与对照组相比，仅在一支 (1.0%) 和五支 (2.5%) 卷烟的剂量中观察到 IL-1β 的产生增加。然而，只有 1.0% CSE 没有表现出细胞毒性作用。此外，CSE 显着增加了 IL-8 的浓度。与由新型隐球菌刺激的细胞相比，用 CSE 和新型隐球菌刺激的细胞表现出 IL-6/STAT3 信号传导的减少。此外，还观察到 IL-10 产量的显着增加。在各组中未观察到 NF-kB 或 ICAM-1 表达的改变。CSE 和C.neoformans的组合有利于增加真菌数量和C.neoformans在 BEAS-2B 细胞上的细胞外粘附。此外，CSE 刺激后新生念珠菌对 BEAS-2B 细胞的内化减少。总之，CSE和协会隐球菌引起的支气管上皮细胞的抗炎作用，这可能有利于发展隐球菌在呼吸道感染。