Dectin-2 is a pattern recognition receptor for fungi that couples with the Fc receptor γ chain to induce innate immune responses

Antigen presenting cells recognize pathogens via pattern recognition receptors (PRR), which upon ligation transduce intracellular signals that can induce innate immune responses. Because some C-type lectin-like receptors (e.g. dectin-1 and DC-SIGN) were shown to act as PRR for particular microbes, we considered a similar role for dectin-2. Binding assays using soluble dectin-2 receptors showed the extracellular domain to bind preferentially to hyphal (rather than yeast/conidial) components of Candida albicans, Microsporum audouinii, and Trichophyton rubrum. Selective binding for hyphae was also observed using RAW macrophages expressing dectin-2, the ligation of which by hyphae or cross-linking with dectin-2-specific antibody led to protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Because dectin-2 lacks an intracellular signaling motif, we searched for a signal adaptor that permits it to transduce intracellular signals. First, we found that the Fc receptor γ (FcRγ) chain can bind to dectin-2. Second, ligation of dectin-2 on RAW cells induced tyrosine phosphorylation of FcRγ, activation of NF-κB, internalization of a surrogate ligand, and up-regulated secretion of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist. Finally, these dectin-2-induced events were blocked by PP2, an inhibitor of Src kinases that are mediators for FcRγ chain-dependent signaling. We conclude that dectin-2 is a PRR for fungi that employs signaling through FcRγ to induce innate immune responses.