title: Inhibition of Candida albicans growth by calprotectin in the absence of direct contact with the organisms.
abstract: Calprotectin is a calcium- and zinc-binding protein that is present in neutrophil cytoplasm and abscess fluid supernatants. This protein appears to inhibit microbial growth through competition for zinc; however, experiments to show that calprotectin can inhibit growth of microorganisms across filter membranes have yielded conflicting results to date. To prevent recontamination of the filtrate by zinc in this type of experiment, Candida albicans was cultured on filter membranes placed on top of an agarose gel containing calprotectin. In these studies, calprotectin in the gels underneath did suppress growth on top of the filters, an effect reversible by 30 microM ZnSO4. In other experiments, the protein did not adhere to the organisms and later suppress their growth. These results indicate that calprotectin inhibits C. albicans growth in the absence of direct contact with the organisms; the findings support a zinc-deprivation mechanism of antimicrobial activity for this protein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, VA Medical Center, Milwaukee 53295, USA.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Sohnle
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Santhanagopalan
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000254:growth & development*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000378:metabolism; D004653:Empyema / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; D015032:Zinc