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Candida albicans-specific Ly-2+ lymphocytes with cytolytic activity

L Romani1, S Mocci, E Cenci

  • 1Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Italy.

European Journal of Immunology
|June 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Experimental Candida albicans infection generates antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. These immune cells, particularly Ly-2+ T cells, demonstrate major histocompatibility complex-restricted and unrestricted lysis of infected macrophages.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Cellular Biology

Background:

  • Experimental Candida albicans infection is a model for studying host immune responses.
  • Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play a crucial role in controlling fungal infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the generation of antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes during experimental Candida albicans infection.
  • To characterize the phenotype and function of cytotoxic cells generated in response to C. albicans.

Main Methods:

  • Culture of purified L3T4+ and Ly-2+ lymphocytes with C. albicans antigen and interleukin-2.
  • Use of yeast-infected bone marrow macrophages as target cells in a 51Cr-release assay.
  • Flow cytometry analysis to determine cell surface markers (Thy-1, CD3, L3T4, Ly-2, T cell receptor alpha/beta).

Main Results:

  • Freshly isolated lymphocytes showed no cytotoxic activity against infected macrophages.
  • Immune Ly-2+ cells cultured for 7-10 days exhibited antigen-specific, major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-unrestricted lysis of infected macrophages.
  • Cultured cells were predominantly Thy-1+, CD3+, Ly-2+ T cells, with enhanced activity upon anti-CD3 antibody addition.
  • At limiting effector cell numbers, antigen-specific MHC-restricted lymphocytes with cytotoxic activity were identified.

Conclusions:

  • Candida albicans infection stimulates the generation of multiple cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors.
  • These precursors exhibit varying recognition stringency, including MHC class I-restricted, antigen-specific CTLs.
  • The study highlights the complexity of T cell-mediated immunity against C. albicans.

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