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Development of macrophage anticryptococcal activity in vitro is dependent on endogenous M-CSF

E Brummer1, G L Gilmore, R K Shadduck

  • 1Department of Medicine, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, and California Institute for Medical Research, San Jose, California, 95128, USA.

Cellular Immunology
|October 29, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Resident macrophages exhibit fungistasis against Cryptococcus neoformans, a process dependent on macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Blocking M-CSF signaling inhibits this antifungal activity, highlighting M-CSF

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Resident murine peritoneal macrophages (PM) display complement-dependent fungistasis against Cryptococcus neoformans.
  • This antifungal activity varies between mouse strains, with CD-1 PM showing delayed fungistatic capacity compared to BALB/c PM.
  • Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) is a key cytokine involved in macrophage differentiation and function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of M-CSF in the development of fungistatic activity in murine peritoneal macrophages.
  • To determine if blocking the M-CSF receptor affects the anticryptococcal activity of macrophages.
  • To assess the impact of exogenous M-CSF and M-CSF receptor blockade on macrophage fungistasis.

Main Methods:

  • Treatment of murine peritoneal macrophages with a rat IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) against the M-CSF receptor.
  • Coculture of treated or untreated macrophages with Cryptococcus neoformans for 24 or 48 hours.
  • Assessment of fungistasis by quantifying fungal growth inhibition.
  • Pretreatment of macrophages with M-CSF and subsequent blockade with anti-M-CSF receptor mAb.
  • Treatment of macrophages with rabbit anti-M-CSF antibody.

Main Results:

  • A monoclonal antibody targeting the M-CSF receptor significantly reduced fungistasis in BALB/c and CD-1 macrophages.
  • M-CSF pretreatment enhanced fungistasis, an effect diminished by the M-CSF receptor antibody.
  • CD-1 macrophages, exhibiting delayed fungistatic activity, showed complete blockade of activity by the M-CSF receptor antibody, correlating with low endogenous M-CSF production.
  • Exogenous M-CSF could overcome M-CSF receptor antibody-mediated inhibition, and anti-M-CSF antibody reduced macrophage anticryptococcal activity.

Conclusions:

  • The development of peritoneal macrophage fungistatic activity against Cryptococcus neoformans is dependent on endogenous M-CSF.
  • M-CSF signaling, via its receptor, is crucial for mediating this anticryptococcal defense.
  • Targeting M-CSF or its receptor represents a potential strategy to modulate macrophage antifungal immunity.

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