AUTHOR=Yi Wendan , Gu Lingwen , Wang Yuwei , Lin Jing , Zhang Lina , Wang Qian , Diao Weilin , Qi Yinghe , Chi Menghui , Yin Min , Li Cui , Zhao Guiqiu 

TITLE=Benzyl isothiocyanate improves the prognosis of Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis by reducing fungal load and inhibiting Mincle signal pathway

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1119568

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2023.1119568

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Aspergillus fumigatus</italic> keratitis is a potential blinding disease associated with <italic>A. fumigatus</italic> invasion and excessive inflammatory response. Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) is a secondary metabolite with broad antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity extracted from cruciferous species. However, the role of BITC in <italic>A. fumigatus</italic> keratitis has not been discovered yet. This study aims to explore the antifungal and anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of BITC in <italic>A. fumigatus</italic> keratitis. Our results provided evidences that BITC exerted antifungal effects against <italic>A. fumigatus</italic> by damaging cell membranes, mitochondria, adhesion, and biofilms in a concentration-dependent manner. <italic>In vivo</italic>, fungal load and inflammatory response including inflammatory cell infiltration and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression were reduced in BITC-treated <italic>A. fumigatus</italic> keratitis. Additionally, BITC significantly decreased Mincle, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 expression in RAW264.7 cells that stimulated by <italic>A. fumigatus</italic> or Mincle ligand trehalose-6,6-dibehenate. In summary, BITC possessed fungicidal activities and could improve the prognosis of <italic>A. fumigatus</italic> keratitis by reducing fungal load and inhibiting the inflammatory response mediated by Mincle.</p>