Related Experiment Videos
Adherence of Candida albicans to tissues from mice with drug- or radiation-induced immunodeficiencies
1Program in Infectious Diseases and Clinical Statistics, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington.
Abstract:
Host factors that influence binding of Candida albicans to murine spleen, lymph node, and kidney were studied. Organs were harvested from BALB/cByJ and AKR/J mice immunocompromised by irradiation, cyclophosphamide, and cortisone acetate alone or in combination. Tissues from treated mice and untreated littermates were compared for their ability to bind C. albicans in ex vivo assays. Immunosuppressive regimens decreased yeast binding to splenic marginal zones, but when mice recovered for 5 days after treatment, adherence to spleen was similar to adherence in untreated littermates. Adherence to lymph node and kidney in treated mice was not different from binding to these tissues in untreated mice. Total serum immunoglobulin titers correlated with binding of yeast cells to mouse spleen. Blocking studies ruled out a mannosyl-fucosyl receptor-mediated binding. These results suggest that ex vivo adherence of C. albicans represents a host immune defense mechanism by which the immunocompetent host binds blood-borne yeast cells to host immune cells in reticuloendothelial organs to prevent dissemination to other organs.
Insights
Host immune defenses influence how Candida albicans binds to organs. This study shows spleen immune cells help prevent fungal spread, highlighting a key defense mechanism against candidiasis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Mycology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen.
- Host immune status significantly impacts C. albicans infections.
- Understanding fungal-host interactions is crucial for developing treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate host factors affecting Candida albicans binding to murine spleen, lymph node, and kidney.
- To elucidate the role of immune cells in C. albicans adherence and clearance.
- To determine if immunosuppression alters fungal binding patterns in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Harvesting organs from BALB/cByJ and AKR/J mice.
- Inducing immunosuppression using irradiation, cyclophosphamide, and cortisone acetate.
- Performing ex vivo assays to measure C. albicans binding to organ tissues.
- Analyzing the correlation between serum immunoglobulin titers and yeast binding.
- Conducting blocking studies to identify binding mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Immunosuppressive treatments reduced C. albicans binding to splenic marginal zones.
- Spleen adherence returned to normal levels after 5 days of host recovery.
- Lymph node and kidney adherence remained unaffected by immunosuppressive regimens.
- Total serum immunoglobulin titers positively correlated with splenic yeast binding.
- Mannosyl-fucosyl receptor-mediated binding was excluded as a mechanism.
Conclusions:
- Ex vivo adherence of C. albicans to spleen is an immune defense mechanism.
- The immunocompetent host utilizes immune cells in reticuloendothelial organs to bind yeast.
- This binding process likely prevents the dissemination of Candida albicans to other organs.