Natural killer cells do not play a dominant role in CD4+ subset differentiation in Candida albicans-infected mice.
The effects of in vivo administration of monoclonal antibodies against NK-1.1-bearing cells on the early production of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) in vitro and development of Th1-associated immunity were studied in mice infected with a live vaccine strain of Candida albicans. At 1 and 4 days postinfection, natural killer (NK) cell-enriched fractions from the spleens of antibody-treated mice displayed a dramatic reduction in 5E6+ lymphocytes and negligible anti-YAC-1 cytotoxic activity in vitro. Nevertheless, the frequency of IFN-gamma-producing cells in those fractions was reduced by less than half, on average, by anti-NK-1.1 treatment in vivo. In addition, the antibody-treated and infected mice demonstrated unchanged T helper cell responses, as measured by yeast-specific footpad reactions, resistance to reinfection, occurrence of antibodies of different isotypes, and production in vitro of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IFN-gamma, IL-4, and IL-10 by CD4+ cells. Therefore, although NK cells may contribute to early IFN-gamma production in Candida-vaccinated mice, these cells apparently do not play a dominant role in the qualitative development of yeast-specific T helper responses.
Romani
L
L
Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Italy.
Mencacci
A
A
Cenci
E
E
Spaccapelo
R
R
Schiaffella
E
E
Tonnetti
L
L
Puccetti
P
P
Bistoni
F
F
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016207:Cytokines; D007371:Interferon-gamma