Inflammatory responses to cryptococcosis in congenitally athymic mice.
Histopathology revealed that nu/nu mice developed both acute and chronic inflammatory responses following infection with Cryptococcus neoformans. In comparison to inflammatory responses in nu/+ mice, the responses in nu/nu mice were delayed, less intense, contained predominantly more polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) than macrophages (M phi s), and did not develop into granulomas. In addition, nu/nu mice developed cryptococcal skin lesions demonstrating that C. neoformans is dermatotropic in a T-cell deficient host. Quantitative culturing of infected organs confirmed that delayed and incomplete inflammatory responses observed in nu/nu mice correlated with their enhanced susceptibility to C. neoformans.
Salkowski
C A
CA
University of Wisconsin Medical School, Department of Surgery, Madison 53706.
Balish
E
E
D000818:Animals; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000473:pathology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000473:pathology; D006520:Hepatitis, Animal / Q000473:pathology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000473:pathology; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000473:pathology; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000473:pathology