title: Production of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor by large granular lymphocytes stimulated with Candida albicans: role in activation of human neutrophil function.
abstract: In the present study, culture supernatants from larger granular lymphocytes (LGL) that were activated with Candida albicans antigens were shown to stimulate the ability of neutrophils to inhibit fungal growth. Identification of the activation factors showed that granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), a hematopoietic growth factor, was involved. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were fractionated by Percoll density centrifugation and each subpopulation of cells was stimulated with C albicans yeast cells. GM-CSF was produced in those fractions enriched for LGL, but not T lymphocytes or adherent monocytes. Additionally, the phenotype of the GM-CSF-producing cell was found to be CD2+, CD16+, HLA-DR+, and negative for CD4, CD8, and CD15. Kinetic studies demonstrated that GM-CSF appeared in the supernatants within 2 days of culture and continued to be produced up to 7 days. Optimal stimulation of LGL was seen at a ratio of 3 heat-killed C albicans yeast cells per LGL. Thus, LGL play an important role in host defense against this opportunistic pathogen by producing cytokines, including GM-CSF, which in turn activates the fungicidal activity of neutrophils.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa 33612.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Blanchard
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Michelini-Norris
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Djeu
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000502:physiology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D016209:Interleukin-8; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D003165:Complement System Proteins