Gradual solubilization of Candida cell wall beta-glucan by oxidative degradation in mice.
Candida spp. is a medically important fungi which induces disseminated candidiasis and candidemia in hospitalized immunocompromised patients. The cell wall of Candida is mainly composed of two polysaccharides, mannan and beta-glucan, and at least part of beta-glucan is basically insoluble in H2O or NaOH. We became interested in when and how particulate beta-glucan changes to the soluble form. However, the fate of wall components has not been examined in detail. In this study, modification and solubilization of the cell wall beta-glucan were analyzed in vivo and in vitro. Cells of Candida, intravenously administered to mice (1 mg/mouse), were immediately deposited mainly in liver as determined by 3H-labeled cells. Beta-Glucans were detected in these mice for at least for 6 months by the beta-glucan specific assay. During this period, the insoluble cell wall beta-glucan was gradually solubilized in these organs, probably by oxidative stress of macrophages. Candida cells and particulate beta-glucans were also gradually solubilized in vitro using sodium hypochlorite solution, but part of the cell wall beta-glucan was still insoluble even after treatment with concentrated hypochlorite solution for one day at room temperature. These findings strongly suggested that the fungal cell wall beta-glucans were quite resistant to oxidative metabolism in vivo and in vitro, and thus deposited for quite long period in the host.
Laboratory for Immunopharmacology of Microbial Products, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, Hachioji, Japan.
N N
NN
Miura
T
T
Miura
N
N
Ohno
Y
Y
Adachi
M
M
Watanabe
H
H
Tamura
S
S
Tanaka
T
T
Yadomae
D000818:Animals; D002175:Candida / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D005936:Glucans / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008033:Limulus Test; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000494:pharmacology; D047071:beta-Glucans
D005936:Glucans; D047071:beta-Glucans; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; C033363:beta-1,3-glucan; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite