Immunosuppression in vitro by a metabolite of a human pathogenic fungus.
Gliotoxin , a metabolite of Aspergillus fumigatus, inhibits phagocytosis of macrophages at concentrations of 20-50 ng/ml. Pretreatment of stimulator cells in mixed lymphocyte cultures with gliotoxin (100 ng/ml) abrogates induction of alloreactive cytotoxic T cells. The presence of gliotoxin 48 hr after initiation of cytotoxic T-cell induction has no effect. Inhibition of cytotoxic T-cell induction by gliotoxin at low concentrations, acting on the stimulator cells, can be overridden by concanavalin A-activated cell supernatants. Gliotoxin does not induce immediate cell-surface antigen modification on target cells. The possible role of gliotoxin in the etiology of A. fumigatus-related diseases is discussed.
D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000276:immunology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005912:Gliotoxin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
D009183:Mycotoxins; D005912:Gliotoxin