title: Opsonic requirements for the uptake of Cryptococcus neoformans by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes.
abstract: Chemiluminescence was used to determine opsonic requirements for interaction of Cryptococcus neoformans with human peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) and monocytes (MNs). Peak chemiluminescence (mean +/- SD) was 172 +/- 25 X 10(3) for PMNLs and 50 +/- 13 X 10(3) for MNs with 20% pooled normal human serum vs. 10 +/- 3 X 10(3) for PMNLs and 6 +/- 1 X 10(3) for MNs without serum (P less than 0.005 for each comparison). The nature of the serum requirement was investigated; alternative pathway serum complements were necessary. The alternative pathway was activated directly by C. neoformans without the need for specific antibody. Chemiluminescence provided a quantitative and reproducible assay of the interaction of human phagocytes with C. neoformans and may be useful in studying opsonic requirements of other fungi.
mesh_terms: D001790:Blood Physiological Phenomena; D003167:Complement Activation; D003170:Complement Pathway, Alternative; D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000276:immunology*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D009895:Opsonin Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D009895:Opsonin Proteins