title: Glucuronoxylomannan exhibits potent immunosuppressive properties.
abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungus responsible for life-threatening infections in immunocompromised and occasionally in immunocompetent hosts. The fungus is endowed with several virulence factors such as its capsular polysaccharide, which plays a key role in virulence. The major component of capsular material of C. neoformans is glucuronoxylomannan, a polysaccharide that exhibits potent immunosuppressive properties in vitro and in vivo. Here we describe a new aspect relative to glucuronoxylomannan-induced immunosuppression. In this review we analyze the suppressive effects of glucuronoxylomannan and the mechanisms leading to induction of apoptosis in T cells.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Section, Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Monari
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bistoni
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vecchiarelli
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; C027478:glucuronoxylomannan