title: Caspofungin benefit on phagocytes from patients with renal dysfunction infected with multidrug-resistant Candida glabrata.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the potential impact of caspofungin (CAS) on the functional activities of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) from hemodialyzed patients (HDs) and renal transplant recipients (RTRs) against a multidrug-resistant clinical strain of Candida glabrata compared with those of PMNs from healthy subjects (HSs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Effects of CAS on PMN phagocytosis and intracellular killing towards multidrug-resistant C. glabrata were evaluated in 66 HDs, 54 RTRs and 30 HSs in the absence and presence of CAS at MIC and sub-MICs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When HD PMNs and RTR PMNs were exposed to both MICs and sub-MICs of CAS, their fungicidal activity against the multidrug-resistant C. glabrata strain was significantly higher than that of drug-free controls, with survival index values that overlapped with those achieved by HS PMNs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The obtained results underline the role of CAS in the restoration of the impaired PMN functions in HDs and RTRs. CAS might still constitute an effective therapeutic option for the treatment of invasive fungal infections caused by multidrug-resistant C. glabrata in patients with altered phagocyte-dependent innate immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health & Pediatrics, University of Torino, Via Santena 9, 10126 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Banche
authors.forename: Narcisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mandras
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giacchino
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scalas
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Allizond
authors.forename: Janira
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roana
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tullio
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garneri
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Castagno
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Merlino
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cuffini
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D041221:Candida glabrata / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D000077336:Caspofungin; D054714:Echinocandins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055666:Lipopeptides; D008297:Male; D050296:Microbial Viability; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D051437:Renal Insufficiency
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D054714:Echinocandins; D055666:Lipopeptides; D000077336:Caspofungin