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Updated: Aug 13, 2026
Live-cell Video Microscopy of Fungal Pathogen Phagocytosis
Published on: January 9, 2013
Glycosaminoglycan profile in macrophages exposed to Candida albicans and interleukins
1Dipartimento di Morfologia ed Embriologia, Università di Ferrara, Italy. pzf@ifeuniv.unife.it
Insights
Macrophages interacting with Candida albicans alter glycosaminoglycan (GAG) profiles, particularly in ANA-1 cells, impacting their function. These changes, influenced by interleukins, suggest a role in macrophage heterogeneity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are key extracellular matrix components influencing macrophage phagocytosis.
- Macrophage phenotype and function are critical in host defense against pathogens like Candida albicans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how Candida albicans (iCa) interaction affects glycosaminoglycan (GAG) profiles in ANA-1 and BV-2 macrophage cell lines.
- To determine the modulatory effects of interleukin-1alpha (IL-1α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) on GAG expression during iCa exposure.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of GAG profiles in ANA-1 and BV-2 macrophage cell lines.
- Treatment with Candida albicans (iCa), IL-1α, and IL-6, followed by GAG quantification and characterization.
- Comparison of GAG changes between cell lines and treatment groups.
Main Results:
- ANA-1 cells showed reduced total GAG accumulation upon iCa treatment, with IL-1α altering specific GAG chain percentages (decreased heparan sulfate/chondroitin sulfate, increased hyaluronic acid).
- IL-6 treatment decreased the hyaluronic acid/sulfated GAG ratio in ANA-1 cells, with or without iCa.
- BV-2 cells exhibited a distinct GAG pattern, with less modulation by iCa and ILs compared to ANA-1 cells.
Conclusions:
- Macrophage-pathogen interactions and cytokine signaling significantly alter GAG expression profiles.
- Differential GAG modulation in ANA-1 versus BV-2 cells highlights cell-type-specific responses.
- Changes in individual GAG classes may underlie the observed functional heterogeneity in macrophages.
Abstract:
Glycosaminoglycans (GAG), are extracellular matrix macromolecules that affect the phagocytic properties of macrophages. In order to assess whether the interaction between macrophages and Candida albicans (iCa) provokes changes in the phenotype, we analyzed the GAG profiles in two macrophage lines, ANA-1 (from murine bone-marrow) and BV-2 (from murine brain). We also investigated GAG modulation by interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). During iCa treatment and even after the addition of ILs, ANA-1 accumulated less total GAG compared to controls. IL-1 treatment, combined with iCa exposure, induced a decrease in heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate chains, and an increase in the hyaluronic acid percentage. IL-6 treatment, with or without iCa, decreased the hyaluronic acid/sulfated GAG ratio. The GAG pattern in BV-2 appears to be different to ANA-1 and iCa exposure does not induce any difference in total GAG. The inhibitory effect induced by ILs on GAG synthesis is less than that observed in ANA-1 and the GAG elution profile is modulated to a lesser extent by treatment with ILs and/or iCa compared to the ANA-1. We suggest that the observed changes in the expression of the individual GAG classes may be responsible for the macrophage functional heterogeneity.
