Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
08:02
Th17 Inflammation Model of Oropharyngeal Candidiasis in Immunodeficient Mice
Published on: February 18, 2015
Th17 cells bounce off the fungal wall
1University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, LRB317, Worcester, MA 01605, USA. stuart.levitz@umassmed.edu
Cell Host & Microbe
|April 22, 2009
Summary
T helper 17 (Th17) cells are crucial for fighting Candida albicans. Mannan, a fungal cell wall component, stimulates the mannose receptor on immune cells, driving IL-17 production.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- T helper 17 (Th17) cells are critical for host defense against fungal pathogens, particularly Candida albicans.
- Understanding the specific fungal components and host receptors involved in Th17 cell activation is essential for developing targeted immunotherapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the specific fungal cell wall components of Candida albicans that trigger Interleukin-17 (IL-17) production.
- To identify the cognate receptors on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) responsible for recognizing these fungal components and initiating an IL-17 response.
Main Methods:
- Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated with various components of the Candida albicans cell wall.
- Interleukin-17 (IL-17) production levels were quantified following stimulation.
- The role of specific receptors, including the mannose receptor, in mediating the response was investigated.
Main Results:
- Mannan, a major component of the Candida albicans cell wall, was identified as a potent stimulator of IL-17 production by PBMCs.
- The mannose receptor on PBMCs was found to be the predominant receptor responsible for recognizing mannan and inducing IL-17 secretion.
- This highlights a key interaction in the innate immune response to Candida albicans.
Conclusions:
- Mannan-mannose receptor interaction is a critical pathway for initiating Th17-mediated immunity against Candida albicans.
- Targeting this pathway could offer novel therapeutic strategies for invasive fungal infections.
Related Concept Videos
01:40Cell-mediated Immune Responses
Overview
01:31Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens
The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
01:23Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response
The T and B lymphocytes of the adaptive immune system develop from common lymphoid progenitor cells in the bone marrow. These progenitors give rise to precursors that eventually develop into both T and B lymphocytes. As these precursors mature, they gain the ability to detect and respond to foreign antigens in the body, a process known as immunocompetence. Additionally, these precursors acquire self-tolerance, a process that ensures they do not react to self-antigens. This intricate system...
02:43Plant Cell Wall
The plant cell wall gives plant cells shape, support, and protection. As a cell matures, its cell wall specializes according to the cell type. For example, the parenchyma cells of leaves possess only a thin, primary cell wall.Collenchyma and sclerenchyma cells, on the other hand, mainly occur in the outer layers of a plant's stems and leaves. These cells provide the plant with strength and support by either partially thickening their primary cell wall (i.e., collenchyma), or depositing a...
01:07Plant Cell Wall
Plant cells have a cell wall, a rigid outer covering that protects the cell and provides shape and support. During cell division, a mixture of enzymes, proteins, and glucose molecules is transported via vesicles to the center of the cell. These vesicles continuously fuse and build a cell plate between the dividing cells. As the cell plate matures, new polysaccharides are added to it to form the cell walls of the daughter cells. The predominant polysaccharide in the cell wall is cellulose, made...