Aspergillus niger lectin elicits MyD88 dependent proliferation and apoptosis at lower and higher doses in immortalized human corneal epithelial cells leading to pathogenesis.

An L-fucose lectin, ANL from the corneal smears of a mycotic keratitis patient was reported earlier. Interaction of ANL with immortalized Human Corneal Epithelial Cells (HCECs) was studied in order to assign the role of ANL in pathogenesis. ANL showed strong binding to HCECs which could be blocked by L-fucose and mucin. At concentrations below 0.6 μg/mL ANL showed proliferative effect and highest at 0.07 μg/mL leading to expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8. ANL induced proinflammatory response is mediated by TLR-2,-4, MyD88, NFkB and C-Jun dependent signaling. In contrast, ANL at concentrations above 0.6 μg/mL showed growth inhibitory effect at 48 h with an IC50 of 2.75 μg/mL. Western blot analysis revealed that HCECs treated with ANL at lower concentration induced the expression of proinflammatory signaling proteins TLR-2, 4, MyD88, NFkB and C-Jun which maintain high cell proliferating state. At higher concentration ANL induced apoptotic effect in HCECs with an increase in early apoptotic population as demonstrated by Annexin V-PI assay. ANL induced the expression of apoptotic proteins FADD, Caspase 8 and -3 mediated by MyD88. These findings demonstrate implication of ANL in pathogenesis and the findings are of clinical significance in developing strategy for controlling the infection leading to mycotic keratitis.