Adiponectin pathway activation dampens inflammation and enhances alveolar macrophage fungal killing via LC3-associated phagocytosis.

Although innate immunity is critical for antifungal host defense against the human opportunistic fungal pathogen , potentially damaging inflammation must be controlled. Adiponectin (APN) is an adipokine produced mainly in adipose tissue that exerts anti-inflammatory effects in adipose-distal tissues such as the lung. We observed 100% mortality and increased fungal burden and inflammation in neutropenic mice with invasive aspergillosis (IA) that lack APN or the APN receptors AdipoR1 or AdipoR2.