TY - JOUR
T1 - An innate immune system cell is a major determinant of species-related susceptibility differences to fungal pneumonia
AU - Shao, Xiuping
AU - Mednick, Aron
AU - Alvarez, Mauricio
AU - Van Rooijen, Nico
AU - Casadevall, Arturo
AU - Goldman, David L.
PY - 2005/9/1
Y1 - 2005/9/1
N2 - Rats and mice are considered resistant and susceptible hosts, respectively, for experimental cryptococcosis. For both species, alveolar macrophages (AM) are central components of the host response to pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans infection. We explored the role of AM in three strains of mice and three strains of rats during cryptococcal infection by comparing the outcome of infection after macrophage depletion using liposomal clodronate. AM depletion was associated with enhancement and amelioration of disease in rats and mice, respectively, as measured by lung fungal burden. The apparent protective role for AM in rats correlated with enhanced anticryptococcal activity as measured by phagocytic activity, oxidative burst, lysozyme secretion, and ability to limit intracellular growth of C. neoformans. Furthermore, rat AM were more resistant to lysis in association with intracellular infection. In summary, differences in AM function in rats and mice suggest an explanation for the species differences in susceptibility to C. neoformans based on the inherent efficacy of a central effector cell of the innate immune system.
AB - Rats and mice are considered resistant and susceptible hosts, respectively, for experimental cryptococcosis. For both species, alveolar macrophages (AM) are central components of the host response to pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans infection. We explored the role of AM in three strains of mice and three strains of rats during cryptococcal infection by comparing the outcome of infection after macrophage depletion using liposomal clodronate. AM depletion was associated with enhancement and amelioration of disease in rats and mice, respectively, as measured by lung fungal burden. The apparent protective role for AM in rats correlated with enhanced anticryptococcal activity as measured by phagocytic activity, oxidative burst, lysozyme secretion, and ability to limit intracellular growth of C. neoformans. Furthermore, rat AM were more resistant to lysis in association with intracellular infection. In summary, differences in AM function in rats and mice suggest an explanation for the species differences in susceptibility to C. neoformans based on the inherent efficacy of a central effector cell of the innate immune system.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=23844458200&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=23844458200&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4049/jimmunol.175.5.3244
DO - 10.4049/jimmunol.175.5.3244
M3 - Article
C2 - 16116215
AN - SCOPUS:23844458200
SN - 0022-1767
VL - 175
SP - 3244
EP - 3251
JO - Journal of Immunology
JF - Journal of Immunology
IS - 5
ER -