Nramp1 gene affects selective early steps in macrophage-mediated anti-cryptococcal defense

• Published in: Medical microbiology and immunology Vol. 189; no. 4; pp. 209 - 216
• Main Authors: BLASI, Elisabetta, COLOMBARI, Bruna, MUCCI, Anna, COSSARIZZA, Andrea, RADZIOCH, Danuta, BOELAERT, Johan R, NEGLIA, Rachele
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.09.2001
• Subjects: Animals; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Cation Transport Proteins - genetics; Cation Transport Proteins - metabolism; Cell Line; Cryptococcosis - immunology; Cryptococcosis - microbiology; Cryptococcus neoformans; Cryptococcus neoformans - immunology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics; Macrophages - immunology; Macrophages - microbiology; Mice; Microbiology; Mycology; Nramp1 gene; Pathogenicity, host-agent relations, miscellaneous strains, epidemiology; Phagocytosis; Human; Cell proliferation; Nervous system diseases; Cryptococcus neoformans; Selectivity; Proliferation; Survival; Meningoencephalitis; Fungi; Cell line; Gene; Pathogenic; Central nervous system disease; Defense mechanism; Strategy; Fungi Imperfecti; Intracellular; Severe; Thallophyta; Macrophage
• ISSN: 0300-8584; 1432-1831
• DOI: 10.1007/s004300100066

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungus responsible for severe and often recurrent meningoencephalitis in immunodepressed patients. Initial evidence suggests that C. neoformans is a facultative intracellular pathogen; however, the strategies by which C. neoformans undergoes survival and eventually proliferation have not been elucidated. We investigated the role of Nrampl gene in macrophage-mediated anti-cryptococcal defense. Using cell lines expressing the functional, mutated or knockout gene, it was established that Nramp1 (1) is not involved in the phagocytic event, (2) influences anti-cryptococcal activity in the early steps but not at later times, and (3) is unrelated to the biomolecular pathways through which C. neoformans impairs macrophage secretory response. Although the functional role of Nramp1 is still far from being elucidated, the present data add insight into its involvement in macrophage-mediated antimicrobial defense, particularly in the initial steps allowing C. neoformans growth inhibition.