Figure 4. Interference of endogenous PLD host cell expression reduces the internalization of A. fumigatus.

A549 cells were transfected with non-specific small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) (Control), PLD1-specific siRNAs (A, C), or PLD2-specific siRNAs (B, D). After 48 h, cells were infected with the swollen conidia of A. fumigatus 13073 at an MOI of 10. A. fumigatus internalization was analyzed by the nystatin protection assay (A, B) and PLD activities (C, D) were measured. Differences in [³H] PtdEtOH formation and A. fumigatus internalization between the untransfected cells (Control) and PLD-silenced cells were compared. Data are represented as the mean ± SE (n = 3–4). *P<0.05. The immunoblots represent PLD1 and PLD2 expression in A549 cell lysates.