The neurotropic black yeast Exophiala dermatitidis induces neurocytotoxicity in neuroblastoma cells and progressive cell death

Lavrin, Teja (author), Konte, Tilen (author), Kostanjšek, Rok (author), Sitar, Simona (author), Sepčić, Kristina (author), Prpar Mihevc, Sonja (author), Žagar, Ema (author), Župunski, Vera (author), Lenassi, Metka (author), Rogelj, Boris (author), Gunde-Cimerman, Nina (author)

The neurotropic and extremophilic black yeast Exophiala dermatitidis (Herpotrichellaceae) inhabits diverse indoor environments, in particular bathrooms, steam baths, and dishwashers. Here, we show that the selected strain, EXF-10123, is polymorphic, can grow at 37 °C, is able to assimilate aromatic hydrocarbons (toluene, mineral oil, n-hexadecane), and shows abundant growth with selected neurotransmitters (acetylcholine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, glycine, glutamate, and dopamine) as sole carbon sources. We have for the first time demonstrated the effect of E. dermatitidis on neuroblastoma cell model SH-SY5Y. Aqueous and organic extracts of E. dermatitidis biomass reduced SH-SY5Y viability by 51% and 37%, respectively. Melanized extracellular vesicles (EVs) prepared from this strain reduced viability of the SH-SY5Y to 21%, while non-melanized EVs were considerably less neurotoxic (79% viability). We also demonstrated direct interactions of E. dermatitidis with SH-SY5Y by scanning electron and confocal fluorescence microscopy. The observed invasion and penetration of neuroblastoma cells by E. dermatitidis hyphae presumably causes the degradation of most neuroblastoma cells in only three days. This may represent a so far unknown indirect or direct cause for the development of some neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

• Language: English
• Keywords: neurotropic fungi, black yeasts, neurotropism, hydrocarbons, extracellular vesicles, Alzheimer’s disease, human neuroblastoma cells, SH-SY5Y, Exophiala dermatitidis
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty; MF - Faculty of Medicine; VF - Veterinary Faculty; FKKT - Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2020
• Number of pages: 22 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 9, iss. 4, art. 963
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-133403
• UDC: 577
• ISSN on article: 2073-4409
• DOI: 10.3390/cells9040963
• COBISS.SI-ID: 34781401
• Publication date in RUL: 25.11.2021

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Cells
• Shortened title: Cells
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2073-4409
• COBISS.SI-ID: 519958809

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 14.04.2020

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: nevrotropne glive, črne kvasovke, nevrotropizem