Gliotoxin

Gliotoxin is a secondary metabolite, the most abundant mycotoxin secreted by A. fumigatus, inhibits the phagocytosis of macrophages and the immune functions of other immune cells [1]. Gliotoxin inhibits inducible NF-κB activity by preventing IκB degradation, which consequently induces host-cell apoptosis[2]. Gliotoxin activates PKA and increases intracellular cAMP concentration; modulates actin cytoskeleton rearrangement to facilitate A. fumigatus internalization into lung epithelial cells[3]. Gliotoxin is a potent NOTCH2 transactivation inhibitor, can effectively induce apoptosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells[4].

[1]Schlam D, et al. Gliotoxin Suppresses Macrophage Immune Function by Subverting Phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-Trisphosphate Homeostasis. MBio. 2016 Apr 5;7(2):e02242.|[2]Coméra C, et al. Gliotoxin from Aspergillus fumigatus affects phagocytosis and the organization of the actin cytoskeleton by distinct signalling pathways in human neutrophils. Microbes Infect. 2007 Jan;9(1):47-54. Epub 2006 Dec 12.|[3]Zhang C, et al. Gliotoxin Induces Cofilin Phosphorylation to Promote Actin Cytoskeleton Dynamics and Internalization of Aspergillus fumigatus Into Type II Human Pneumocyte Cells. Front Microbiol. 2019 Jun 18;10:1345.|[4]Hubmann R, et al. Gliotoxin is a potent NOTCH2 transactivation inhibitor and efficiently induces apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) cells. Br J Haematol. 2013 Mar;160(5):618-29.|[5]Sugui JA, et al. Gliotoxin is a virulence factor of Aspergillus fumigatus: gliP deletion attenuates virulence in mice immunosuppressed with hydrocortisone. Eukaryot Cell. 2007 Sep;6(9):1562-9.