title: Fungal capsular polysaccharide and T-cell suppression: the hidden nature of poor immunogenicity.
abstract: Many capsular polysaccharide antigens are generally considered to be classic T-cell independent antigens that stimulate humoral response. This response is poor and short lived due to the absence of T-cell involvement. Recent emerging evidence suggests that fungal capsular polysaccharides may negatively affect T-cell response. This effect is indirectly mediated by antigen-presenting cells that sense microbial polysaccharides and manage T-cell response. This review will revisit the role of the cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide as a nonconventional regulator of natural and adaptive immune response, revealing the hidden nature of its poor immunogenicity and novel opportunities for the biomedical exploitation of this nontoxic compound.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Section, Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. vecchiar@unipg.it
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vecchiarelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D016207:Cytokines; D011134:Polysaccharides; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C014426:cryptococcal polysaccharide