title: Evidence for the existence of ganglioside molecules on Pneumocystis carinii from human lungs.
abstract: This study was undertaken to assess whether glycolipid antigens (particularly gangliosides) are associated with Pneumocystis carinii obtained from human lungs. Gangliosides were extracted, purified in high performance thin-layer chromatography and stained with resorcinol. Two resorcinol-positive bands, co-migrating with GM1 and GD1a were demonstrated, suggesting the existence of ganglioside molecules on P. carinii. No resorcinol-positive bands were revealed in the pulmonary control tissue. In addition, an antiserum obtained from rabbits immunized with P. carinii antigen reacted with gangliosides GM1 and GD1a, as revealed by a dot immunobinding assay. This reactivity was inhibited by first incubating the antiserum with ganglioside micelles. Furthermore, anti-glycosphingolipid antibodies (aGM1) reacted with the bands of 200 and 55 kDa of P. carinii antigen. These results suggest that ganglioside antigens expressed on P. carinii can trigger specific immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Tropical Disease, University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sorice
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lenti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Misasi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Contini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cignarella
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Griggi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vullo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Masala
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000276:immunology; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000032:analysis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology*; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D011010:Pneumocystis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D005732:Gangliosides; D007106:Immune Sera