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A further characterization of Candida albicans-induced suppressor B-cell activity
C F Cuff1, B J Packer, T J Rogers
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140.
Insights
Components of Candida albicans induce non-specific suppressive activity in B lymphocytes, inhibiting T-cell responses but not T-cell-independent antibody production. This highlights a unique regulatory mechanism in the immune system.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Candida albicans components can induce suppressive activity in B lymphocytes.
- This suppressive activity is antigen non-specific and affects T-cell proliferation and in vitro antibody responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the expression and induction of activity in Candida-primed regulatory cells.
- To determine the specificity and target cell populations of this suppressive activity.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the effects of Candida-primed cells on T-cell-dependent and T-cell-independent antibody responses.
- Assessed the impact on T-cell populations mediating interleukin-2 (IL-2) and cytolytic activity.
- Examined the cellular requirements for the induction of suppressor cell activity.
Main Results:
- Suppression of primary and secondary T-cell-dependent antibody responses was observed.
- Type I and type II T-cell-independent antibody responses remained unaffected.
- T-cell populations involved in IL-2 and cytolytic activity were not inhibited.
- Induction of suppressor cell activity requires both T cells and accessory cells.
Conclusions:
- The suppressive activity induced by Candida albicans is antigen non-specific but targets limited cell populations.
- Candida albicans acts as a T-dependent antigen in inducing this regulatory cell activity.
- This study elucidates a unique immune regulatory mechanism involving B lymphocyte suppression.
Abstract:
We have previously established that components of the organism Candida albicans are capable of inducing suppressive activity in a population of B lymphocytes. The activity of this population is antigen non-specific. The proliferative response to T-cell, but not B-cell, specific mitogens is inhibited. In addition, the antibody response in vitro is suppressed. Since little is known about this relatively unique regulatory population, we have attempted to characterize both the expression and induction of activity of the Candida-primed cells. Our results show that both primary and secondary T-cell-dependent antibody responses are inhibited, whereas both type I and type II T-cell-independent antibody responses are not affected by the suppressor cell population. T-cell populations responsible for both interleukin-2 (IL-2) and cytolytic activity are also unaffected. These results suggest that while there is no antigen specificity for this population, the suppressive activity is extended to limited target cell populations. Results also suggest that both T cells and accessory cells are required for the induction of the suppressor cell activity, indicating that the Candida organism acts as a typical T-dependent antigen in the induction of regulatory cell activity.