Evaluation of Changes in Actin Filaments of RK13 Cells Infected with Malassezia pachydermatis

Background: Malassezia pachydermatis is the main causative agent of canine otitis and also of a myriad of dermatological problems in companion animals; its interaction mechanisms with host cells are still unclear. Objectives: To establish an in vitro infection model of M. pachydermatis-exposed RK13 cells in order to evaluate cell morphological changes as well as changes in the structure of actin filaments. Methods: Cultures of RK13 cells were infected with M. pachydermatis, alterations caused by the yeast were evaluated by optical and fluorescence microscopy. Results: M. pachydermatis adheres itself to the cell and produces the formation of multiple agglomerates that cause changes in cell morphology, formation of cell aggregates in overlays, presence of syncytia and destruction of cell culture structure. The damaged cells presented changes in the actin filaments consisting of thickening of the cell cortex and loss of stress fibers. On the other hand, the formation of perinuclear actin rings in the yeasts was observed. Conclusions: An in vitro infection model was established with M. pachydermatis and alterations in cell morphology were observed consisting of changes in the structure of the actin filaments, overgrowth of the cells and the presence of syncytia.


Introduction
Malassezia pachydermatis is a yeast of great importance in veterinary medicine, it is part of the skin's normal microbiota of many animals and it is associated with changes in the immunological mechanisms of its host; the proliferation of this yeast can result in the clinical presentation of otitis, seborrhea, atopy and allergic dermatitis [1]. The external acoustic meatus represents a fragile environment in which inflammatory changes are capable of causing alterations in the skin's microbiota such that the uncontrolled proliferation of M. pachydermatis becomes a perpetuating factor of canine external otitis. By itself, this yeast is responsible for about 30 to 80% of canine otitis externa cases and is also associated with about 30% of seborrheic dermatitis and atopy cases in dogs [2] [3]. In humans, M. pachydermatis can cause fungaemias, especially in newborns that are kept in intensive therapy [4] and in immunocompromised patients; moreover, it has been observed that it can even cause alterations in immunocompetent patients, thus reveling its zoonotic potential [5].
In spite of being one of the main causative agents responsible for a number of cutaneous problems in animals, many of its pathogenic mechanisms are still poorly understood, especially those relating to its normal presence as part of the skin's microbiota, which creates immunological tolerance.
Recent studies have mainly focused on determining the events of the interactions between pathogens and host cells that give rise to colonization and the creation of a specialized niche that ensures pathogen survival [6] [7]. A common target of these studies is the host cell's cytoskeleton, which is utilized by different pathogens (virus, bacteria and fungi) for several purposes, including attachment, internalization, movement between and inside cells, vacuole formation, remodeling and avoidance of phagocytosis [8] [9].
Actin filaments are a part of the cytoskeleton that are related to the maintenance and changes in cell shape and movement by means of structures that are formed by the rearrangements of the filaments induced as a response to diverse intra and extracellular signals. In mammal cells these filaments form bundles and networks that give rise to structures such as the cellular cortex, stress fibers and lamellipodia [10] [11] [12]. In yeasts they form patches and cables [13].
Little is known about the pathogenic mechanisms that this yeast exerts on the tissues it affects. During colonization and diffusion of the pathogen, a key role is played by the changes induced in actin filament organization, which is a mechanism that has already been demonstrated by other yeast such as Sporothrix schenkii, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata y Malassezia furfur, therefore, it is possible that Malassezia pachydermatis also exhibits such mechanism [9] [14] [15] [16].
The objective of the present study was to establish an in vitro model of RK13-cell infection with M. pachydermatis and to evaluate the capacity of this yeast to colonize the culture, as well as the alterations in cell morphology and in the actin filaments.

RK13 Cell Culture
RK13 cells (ATCC CCL-37) were cultured in DMEM medium supplemented with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) and were kept at 37˚C in an atmosphere with 5% CO 2 and 95% humidity.

RK13 Cell Infection with M. pachydermatis
Cells were seeded in 24-well culture plates that contained previously sterilized rounded coverslips. Cellular cultures were divided into three groups: Group I, uninfected control culture; Group II, cells cultured in SDA medium only, and group III, cellular culture infected with M. pachydermatis. Cells were infected at a ratio of 10:1 (1 × 10 6 yeasts). Each assay was performed three times and each time was monitored at 24, 48 and 72 hours post incubation at 37˚C.

Evaluation of Adherence Capacity and Damage to the Cellular Monolayer
Evaluation of M. pachydermatis-infected RK13 cells was realized by optical microscopy with the intention of determining the presence of morphological changes in the cellular cultures, as well as the formation of yeast colonies. In order to do this, coverslips containing the cultures from each of the three groups were taken from the wells at 24, 48 and 72 hours and washed with PBS in order to remove any non-adhered yeasts. After this, all cultures were fixed with 10% aqueous formalin in PBS, mounted on microscope slides and observed.

Fluorescence Microscopy
In order to evaluate the changes induced by the yeast on the actin cytoskeleton, observation by fluorescence microscopy was performed (Zeiss Axioscop 40, coupled to an Evolution VF Cooled Color camera from Media cybernetics). Alterations encountered in cellular cultures and actin filaments were also analyzed by confocal microscopy (Nikon A1R STORM confocal microscope).

Results
Optic microscopy revealed that uninfected cells formed monolayers with normal structure and normal cellular morphology (Figure 1(a)), the same as the cells in SDA medium (data not shown). In contrast, yeast-infected cells displayed numerous changes in the structure of the monolayer as well as alterations in cellular morphology such as rounded cells and loss of the monolayer integrity. Formation of yeast colonies in grape-like clusters was also observed (Figure 1(c)).
Results from fluorescence microscopy revealed that infection by M. pachydermatis induces changes in the actin cytoskeleton. Uninfected cells (groups I and II) displayed a normal structure of the actin cytoskeleton (Figure 1(b)). Infected cells exhibited loss of cellular morphology on the yeast attachment sites to the cell, apparently overgrown cellular clusters in circular arrangements were formed, cells were elongated and rounded with loss of stress fibers and thickened cellular cortex (Figure 1(d)). When performing the analysis of the cultures in which actin filaments and nuclei were detected by the direct fluorescence assay, autofluorescence was observed in the yeasts.
An infected culture was examined by confocal microscopy, observing the formation of syncytia and small circular actin structures that corresponded to the yeast's attachment sites. These circular structures collocate with yeast's nuclei position when merge is performed, each nucleus is surrounded by actin filaments ring ( Figure 2).
In order to demonstrate that M. pachydermatis was stimulating cellular culture overgrowth beyond that of a monolayer, uninfected and infected cellular cultures were analyzed by confocal microscopy, orthogonal view Z-stack. In Figure 3 we show uninfected and infected cellular cultures that correspond to the images obtained after they were merged.
Uninfected cellular cultures in the XY plane can be observed in Figure 3(a) and Figure 3(c), here we can appreciate the formation of an unaltered cellular monolayer, with normal cellular morphology and actin filaments with no structural changes. In Figure 3(b) an infected cellular culture is shown, here we can observe grape-like clusters of yeasts in their sites of attachment to the cells.
Overgrown cellular aggregates with loss of normal morphology are also noticed ( Figure 3(d)). In Figure 3

Discussion
In the last few years there has been an increasing interest in the study of the abil- In a previous work [17], it was pointed that the proliferation rate was similar for infected cells and those belonging to the control group, nonetheless, we observed an increase in cellular proliferation on the attachment sites of the yeast.
According to that observed by confocal microscopy, such cellular aggregates supporting the theory that M. pachydermatis in vivo causes hyperkeratosis and hyperplasia, both of which are evident as macroscopic and histologic lesions [18] [19] and, hypothetically, the outcome of an inflammatory and/ or an hypersensitivity reaction to the substances secreted by the yeasts and its antigens [20] [21] [22], such as: alkaline and acid phosphatase, sulfatase chondroitin, esterase, galactosidase, glucosidase, hialuronidase, lipase, lecithinase, peroxidase, protease and urease, among others that have been the target of great interest and may be pathogenically involved [23] [24]. The damage caused by the presence of the yeast, according to our observations, could relate to the release of such enzymes instead of being a consequence of an immune reaction, given the fact that during the course of this study only an infected culture was used and cellular proliferation was observed in the attachment sites between the yeasts and cells, which in turn suggest that changes are induced in order to act as means by which the yeast protects itself and avoids immune responses. These findings could help to understand the pathogenic mechanism of this yeast and to explain the presence of epidermic hyperkeratosis observed in biopsies obtained from infected tissues, as well as the difficulties encountered during the therapeutic management of otitis and dermatitis caused by M. pachydermatis.
Small circular actin structures limiting the nuclei of the yeasts were also observed, such structures could correlate to the presence of actin rings that have been previously reported in Fellomyces fuzhouensis [25] and Cryptococcus neoformans [26].

Conclusion
In conclusion, we were able to establish an infection model of RK13 cells by M. pachydermatis. Yeasts adhered themselves to culture cells forming grape-like colonies. The more relevant findings were: alterations in cellular morphology and in the structure of the actin filaments; monolayer overgrowth in the sites of yeast attachment and syncytia formation. Also of relevance, is the fact that, to our knowledge, this constitutes the first study to report the presence of perinuclear rings in M. pachydermatis. These findings will help to further clarify the pathogenic mechanism of this yeast and to explain the presence of epidermic hyperkeratosis observed in biopsies obtained from infected tissues as well as the difficulties encountered during the therapeutic management of otitis and dermatitis caused by M. pachydermatis.