Opsonic effect of C-reactive protein on phagocytosis and intracellular killing of virulent and attenuated strains of Candida albicans by human neutrophils

• Published in: FEMS microbiology immunology Vol. 3; no. 6; pp. 341 - 344
• Main Authors: Richardson, M D, Gray, C A, Shankland, G S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 01.11.1991
• Subjects: C-Reactive Protein - pharmacology; C-Reactive Protein - physiology; Candida albicans - pathogenicity; Complement System Proteins - physiology; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic - drug effects; Humans; Neutrophils - drug effects; Neutrophils - physiology; Opsonin Proteins - physiology; Phagocytosis - drug effects; Spores, Fungal; Virulence
• ISSN: 0920-8534
• DOI: 10.1016/0378-1097(91)90037-B

In the presence of autologous complement, maximal phagocytosis of Candida albicans blastospores of both a virulent and attenuated strain by human neutrophils in a monolayer assay was achieved after 30 min. The proportion of phagocytes containing intracellular blastospores was 33-36% with an average of 1.5 blastospores per phagocyte. In contrast to the attenuated strain of C. albicans, the virulent strain resisted opsonization by C-reactive protein (CRP) and of those blastospores ingested, only 8% were killed. These findings support the concept that CRP may play a protective role in candidosis independent of complement. The fate of strains of different virulence may be a result of differences in CRP receptors or killing mechanisms.