摘要Aim:To determine if NOD2 is involved in host recognition of Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) conidia.Methods:An Af conidia pulmonary infection murine model was established by intranasal inoculation of Afconidia suspensions.Protein levels of NOD2 in lung tissue were determined by immunohistochemistry.A549 and phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-activated THP-1 cell lines were treated with heat-killed .Af conidia,then the presence of NOD2 protein in these cell lines was detected by Western blotting.The ability of muramyl dipeptide (MDP) to induce the secretion of TNF-α after incubation with heat-killed Af conidia was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results:The expression of NOD2 protein in lung tissue increased after Af conidia infection.Heat-killed Af conidia significantly upregulated NOD2 protein expression in A549 cells and PMA-activated THP-1 cells.Additionally,Af conidia in conjuction with MDP,significantly increased the secretion of TNF-α in A549 cells and PMA-activated THP-1 cells.Conclusion:Af conidia upregulates NOD2 protein expression in vitro and in vivo.These findings indicate that NOD2 protein may respond to Af conidia.