title: Role of PMN's candidicidal activity in the pathogenesis of AIDS-related systemic candidiases.
abstract: Phagocytic and fungicidal activity towards C. albicans spores were tested in 9 patients with AIDS-Related Complex (ARC), but without Candida infections, and in 13 patients with AIDS and deep candidiasis. No significant differences were observed between the two mentioned groups as far as PMN's phagocytosis and killing were concerned. PMN's migration in response to a "non-mycotic" chemoattractant was defective in both groups; although, from this point of view, patients with candidiasis were more severely affected. A significant difference was noted, instead, as far as mean T helper values were concerned; in fact, their number was significantly lower in patients with systemic candidiasis than in those with ARC or even AIDS, but oesophageal candidiasis only. In conclusion, defective PMN's activity towards C. albicans spores, as observed in vitro, does not seem in itself to predispose AIDS patients to candidiasis in vivo; mycoses may be rather due to defects of cell-mediated immunity as a whole.
mesh_terms: D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000276:immunology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000276:immunology*; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification