title: Binding of host collectins to the pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans: human surfactant protein D acts as an agglutinin for acapsular yeast cells.
abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic pathogen in AIDS patients causing disseminated disease and lethal meningitis after inhalation of acapsular or sparsely encapsulated yeast cells. In this study we have investigated whether a recently described family of primitive opsonins, termed collectins, contribute to innate resistance against C. neoformans. The pulmonary surfactant proteins SP-A and SP-D as well as the serum collectins mannose-binding protein and CL-43 bound in a calcium-dependent manner to acapsular C. neoformans in vitro. Binding was concentration dependent and abolished by competition with defined mono- and oligosaccharides. In contrast, no binding of the collectins was observed with the encapsulated form of the yeast. Furthermore, binding of purified collectin SP-D, but not SP-A, mannose-binding protein, or CL-43, led to a concentration-dependent agglutination of acapsular C. neoformans. These data indicate that collectins recognize carbohydrate structures in the cell wall of an initial infectious form of C. neoformans and may play a role in early antifungal defenses in the lung.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schelenz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Holmskov
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Bancroft
mesh_terms: D000373:Agglutinins / Q000502:physiology*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000276:immunology*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009895:Opsonin Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011510:Proteolipids / Q000502:physiology; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000373:Agglutinins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D009895:Opsonin Proteins; D011510:Proteolipids; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants