Human dendritic cells are less potent at killing Candida albicans than both monocytes and macrophages.
Dendritic cells (DC) function as professional phagocytes to kill Candida albicans and subsequently present it to the adaptive immune system. Monocytes, macrophages and DC were generated from five individual donors and their Candida-killing capacity and cytokine release were assessed. Compared to monocytes and macrophages, DC from healthy volunteers were significantly less effective in C. albicans--stimulated cytokine release, killing of C. albicans blastoconidia and damaging of C. albicans hyphae. In conclusion, while important as antigen-presenting cells and initiators of the adaptive immune system, DC are poor in both intracellular killing and damaging of C. albicans hyphae. Effective handling of large numbers of C. albicans is the prime task of the innate immune system consisting of large numbers of neutrophils and monocytes.
Netea
Mihai G
MG
Department of Medicine, University Medical Center St. Radboud, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Gijzen
Karlijn
K
Coolen
Neeltje
N
Verschueren
Ineke
I
Figdor
Carl
C
Van der Meer
Jos W M
JW
Torensma
Ruurd
R
Kullberg
Bart Jan
BJ
D002176:Candida albicans / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000032:analysis; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D000099215:DC-Specific ICAM-3 Grabbing Nonintegrin
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016207:Cytokines; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000099215:DC-Specific ICAM-3 Grabbing Nonintegrin