Phagocytosis and intracellular killing of Candida albicans by macrophages exposed to myeloperoxidase.
Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen whose resurgence coincides with the rising number of AIDS patients. Neutrophils are known to be involved in the clearance of Candida infections; however, the role of macrophages in host defenses against this organism is not well understood. The present study was undertaken to examine an unrecognized interaction between neutrophils and macrophages resulting in enhanced killing of candidae in vitro. Murine peritoneal macrophages exposed to recombinant myeloperoxidase exhibited enhancement of the respiratory burst, increased phagocytosis, and a dose-dependent increase in intracellular killing of Candida species. Radical scavengers reduced the killing, indicating a role of reactive oxygen intermediates in the candidacidal activity observed. These data suggest that at the site of infection, myeloperoxidase released from neutrophils activates macrophages and induces microbicidal activity.
Lefkowitz
S S
SS
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock 79430, USA.
Gelderman
M P
MP
Lefkowitz
D L
DL
Moguilevsky
N
N
Bollen
A
A
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D016897:Respiratory Burst; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000494:pharmacology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D002374:Catalase; D009195:Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase