In the present study we investigated the response of monocytes from AIDS patients, susceptible to cryptococcosis (<200 CD4 cells/microl), against Cryptococcus neoformans. Different patterns of response were observed in these cells compared to cells from healthy donors. In particular, fungicidal activity versus this fungus was impaired; this phenomenon could be due to the difficulty of monocytes to internalize C. neoformans in the presence of an intact complement system. Impairment of complement receptor type 3 and direct involvement of this receptor in phagocytosis of C. neoformans were found in monocytes from AIDS patients, which may account for the difficulty in phagocytosis of the fungus. Also, superoxide anion production was dramatically reduced in monocytes from AIDS patients. An increase of spontaneous tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production was evidenced after in vitro addition of C. neoformans. However, this did not activate the antifungal capacity of monocytes from AIDS patients. Moreover, cryptococcus-laden monocytes from AIDS patients were able to induce only a weak response of autologous T-lymphocytes. Hence, monocyte dysfunction could play a part in the progression of cryptococcosis in AIDS.

Monocyte dysfunction in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) versus Cryptococcus neoformans

MONARI, Claudia;BALDELLI, Franco;PIETRELLA, Donatella;RETINI, Cinzia;FRANCISCI, Daniela;BISTONI, Francesco;VECCHIARELLI, Anna
1997

Abstract

In the present study we investigated the response of monocytes from AIDS patients, susceptible to cryptococcosis (<200 CD4 cells/microl), against Cryptococcus neoformans. Different patterns of response were observed in these cells compared to cells from healthy donors. In particular, fungicidal activity versus this fungus was impaired; this phenomenon could be due to the difficulty of monocytes to internalize C. neoformans in the presence of an intact complement system. Impairment of complement receptor type 3 and direct involvement of this receptor in phagocytosis of C. neoformans were found in monocytes from AIDS patients, which may account for the difficulty in phagocytosis of the fungus. Also, superoxide anion production was dramatically reduced in monocytes from AIDS patients. An increase of spontaneous tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production was evidenced after in vitro addition of C. neoformans. However, this did not activate the antifungal capacity of monocytes from AIDS patients. Moreover, cryptococcus-laden monocytes from AIDS patients were able to induce only a weak response of autologous T-lymphocytes. Hence, monocyte dysfunction could play a part in the progression of cryptococcosis in AIDS.
1997
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11391/919346
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 17
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 18
social impact