Antifungal activity of interleukin-2-activated natural killer (NK1.1+) lymphocytes against Candida albicans.
Interleukin-2 (IL-2)-activated lymphocytes interact directly with, and inhibit, the growth of Candida albicans hyphae. C. albicans-stimulated natural killer (NK1.1+) lymphocytes were demonstrated to secrete a soluble product capable of directly affecting C. albicans yeast forms. Antibodies specific for interferon-gamma completely eliminated the antifungal activity of the NK1.1+ lymphocyte product and diminished the antifungal activity of NK1.1+ lymphocytes against C. albicans. Antibodies specific for other cytokines had no such effect. These data demonstrate that C. albicans-stimulated NK1.1+ lymphocytes have antifungal activity against C. albicans yeast cells via the release of interferon-gamma. This antifungal activity was demonstrable only against the yeast form of the fungus, with no effect on C. albicans hyphae.
Mathews
H L
HL
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University of Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
Witek-Janusek
L
L
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D003165:Complement System Proteins