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Histone preopsonisation increases the respiratory burst response of phagocytes to Pneumocystis carinii

M B Taylor1, I N Brown

  • 1Department of Medical Microbiology, St. Mary's Hospital Medical School, London, U.K.

FEMS Microbiology Letters
|December 15, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Histone preincubation boosts Pneumocystis carinii

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Pneumocystis carinii is an opportunistic pathogen.
  • Phagocyte respiratory burst is crucial for pathogen clearance.
  • Histones are DNA-binding proteins with immunomodulatory roles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of histone preincubation on Pneumocystis carinii-induced phagocyte activation.
  • To assess the role of histone-opsonized parasites in stimulating polymorphonuclear leucocyte and macrophage chemiluminescence.

Main Methods:

  • Preincubation of Pneumocystis carinii with purified histone.
  • Co-incubation of preincubated parasites with phagocytes (polymorphonuclear leucocytes and macrophages).
  • Measurement of chemiluminescence as an indicator of respiratory burst activity.

Main Results:

  • Histone preincubation significantly increased phagocyte chemiluminescence compared to unopsonised Pneumocystis carinii.
  • Enhanced chemiluminescence suggests increased reactive oxygen species production.
  • This indicates a heightened respiratory burst response.

Conclusions:

  • Histone interaction with Pneumocystis carinii enhances its phagocytosis and subsequent respiratory burst.
  • Released toxic oxygen moieties may contribute to host tissue damage during infection.
  • Histones may play a role in modulating the host immune response to Pneumocystis carinii.

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