title: Growth inhibition of Candida albicans by interleukin-2-activated splenocytes.
abstract: Murine splenocytes, Percoll-enriched low-density lymphocytes, and interleukin-2 (IL-2)-activated lymphocytes were assessed for the capacity to limit the growth of the hyphal form of Candida albicans. No fungal-growth-inhibitory activity was exhibited for C. albicans by either splenocytes or Percoll-enriched lymphocytes. These cells were capable of cytotoxic activity for a natural killer cell-sensitive cell line. However, when cultured for several days with IL-2, splenocytes acquired the capacity to inhibit the growth of the fungus. The appearance of the antifungal activity coincided with the development of cytotoxic activity for the natural killer cell-insensitive cell line. Anti-C. albicans and antitumor activities of IL-2-activated lymphocytes were competitively and reciprocally inhibited by C. albicans and the natural killer cell-sensitive and -insensitive cell lines. The antifungal activity of the IL-2-activated lymphocytes was exhibited against a number of clinical isolates of C. albicans and related fungal species. IL-2-activated human peripheral blood lymphocytes also acquired the capacity to inhibit the growth of C. albicans. These data show that in vitro growth inhibition can be mediated by IL-2-stimulated lymphocytes which are neither fungal strain nor mammalian species restricted in their biological activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University of Chicago, Maywood, Illinois 60153.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Beno
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Mathews
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D002470:Cell Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins