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Role of nitric oxide and melanogenesis in the accomplishment of anticryptococcal activity by the BV-2 microglial cell line.
J Neuroimmunol. 1995 Apr;58(1):111-6.
Role of nitric oxide and melanogenesis in the accomplishment of anticryptococcal activity by the BV-2 microglial cell line.
Blasi E, Barluzzi R, Mazzolla R, Tancini B, Saleppico S, Puliti M, Pitzurra L, Bistoni F.
SourceDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Modena, Italy.
Abstract
In the present paper, we investigated the involvement of cryptococcal melanogenesis and macrophage nitric oxide (NO) production in the accomplishment of anticryptococcal activity by microglial effector cells, using the murine cell line BV-2. We demonstrate that the constitutive levels of anticryptococcal activity exerted by BV-2 cells is significantly enhanced upon interferon gamma plus lipopolysaccharide treatment. The phenomenon, which occurs with no enhancement of phagocytic activity, is associated with the production of high levels of NO and is abolished by addition of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine. Comparable patterns of results are observed employing either unopsonized or opsonized microbial targets, the latter microorganisms being markedly more susceptible to BV-2 cell antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, melanization of Cryptococcus neoformans significantly reduces its susceptibility to BV-2 antimicrobial activity, regardless of the fact that activated macrophages or opsonized microorganisms have been employed. In conclusion, our results provide evidence that NO-dependent events are involved in the fulfillment of anticryptococcal activity by activated microglial cells and that fungal melanization is a precious escamotage through which C. neoformans overcomes host defenses.
PMID: 773044
Staphylococcus aureus: application of pulsed field gel electrophoresis to methicillin-resistant strains from human and animal pathology
Anticryptococcal Resistance in the Mouse Brain: Beneficial Effects ofLocal Administration of Heat-Inactivated Yeast Cells
Using a murine model, we have previously shown that brain resistance to local infection with opportunistic fungi is affected by manipulation of the host myelomonocytic compartment. Here, we demonstrate thatintracerebral administration of heat-inactivated Cryptococcus neoformans (H-CN) yeast cells results in a consistent enhancement of mouse survival to subsequent local challenge with lethal doses of C. neoformans. The phenomenon, more pronounced upon double H-CN treatment, is associated with (i) massive local inflammatoryresponse, (ii) reduced growth of the fungus within the brain, and (iii) induction of delayed-type hypersensitivity. Moreover, H-CN treatment confers protection against local heterologous challenges. Our data provide initial evidence that intracerebral administration of H-CN results in the establishment of aspecific and specific immune responses; the mechanisms of elicitation and relative contributions to host antimicrobial resistance remain to be elucidated.Using a murine model, we have previously shown that brain resistance to local infection with opportunistic fungi is affected by manipulation of the host myelomonocytic compartment. Here, we demonstrate that intracerebral administration of heat-inactivated Cryptococcus neoformans (H-CN) yeast cells results in a consistent enhancement of mouse survival to subsequent local challenge with lethal doses of C. neoformans. The phenomenon, more pronounced upon double H-CN treatment, is associated with (i) massive local inflammatory response, (ii) reduced growth of the fungus within the brain, and (iii) induction of delayed-type hypersensitivity. Moreover, H-CN treatment confers protection against local heterologous challenges. Our data provide initial evidence that intracerebral administration of H-CN results in the establishment of a specific and specific immune responses; the mechanisms of elicitation and relative contributions to host antimicrobial resistance remain to be elucidated
Staphylococcus aureus: applicazione della elettroforesi pulsata (PFGE) a stipiti meticillino-resistenti di origine bovina.
Cryptococcus neoformans triggers maturation of dendritic cells: inhibitory activity of capsular material
Protective effect of picolinic acid on mice intracerebrally infected with lethal doses of Candida albicans
We have studied the effects of picolinic acid (PLA), a product of tryptophan degradation, on mouse susceptibility to intracerebral infection with Candida albicans. We show that intraperitoneal administration of PLA significantly enhances the median survival time of mice inoculated with the lethal challenge. Furthermore, intracerebral administration of this agent induces a protective state against the local lethal infection, the phenomenon depending upon the administration schedule and doses of PLA employed. According to survival data, yeast growth in the brain as well as yeast colonization of the kidneys are drastically reduced in PLA-treated mice compared with those for untreated controls. Northern (RNA) blot analysis of brain tissues demonstrates that mRNA levels specific for tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 1 are augmented and induced, respectively, after inoculation of PLA. These results indicate that PLA has a protective effect likely involving elicitation of a cytokine response in vivo against fungal infections
Microglial cell-mediated anti-Candida activity: temperature, ions, protein kinase C as crucial elements.
An in vitro established microglial cell line, BV-2, constitutively exhibits high levels of anti-Candida activity. To elucidate the cascade of events leading to the accomplishment of such activity, we studied its dependence on temperature and ion availability. The role of protein kinases has also been studied by the specific inhibitors, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride (H7) and N-(2-guanidinoethyl)-5-isoquinoline sulfonamide hydrochloride (HA 1004). We found that (a) the BV-2 cell/Candida conjugate formation is a discrete step, temperature-, ion- and protein kinase-independent; (b) the phagocytic event, which is protein kinase-independent, is significantly impaired by temperature decrease and ion deprivation; (c) the fulfillment of anti-Candida effects is strictly dependent upon temperature, ion availability and functional protein kinase. Functional protein kinase C, but not other kinases, is required for the accomplishment of anti-Candida activity, which, in fact, is selectively abrogated by H7 but not HA. Furthermore, protein kinase C activators, such as 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) or 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl glycerol (OAG), consistently potentiate BV-2 cell-mediated anti-Candida activity, the phenomena being dose-dependent. These results indicate that the multistep events leading a microglial cell to express anti-Candida activity can be dissected and differentiated for biochemical and biological demands, the latest along the cascade being the most demanding steps
Immunology and pathogenesis of infections of the central nervous system(CNS)
The central nervous system (CNS) has long been regarded as an immunologically privileged site for the presence of blood-brain and blood- cerebrospinal fluid barriers. Nevertheless, experimental evidence indicates that, under physiological conditions, minimal amounts of blood-derived immune cells exist within the brain and cooperate with the resident immune elements, such as microglia and astrocyte, to the surveillance of the district. Following microbial invasion, both blood-derived and local effector systems synergize against the pathogen. The timing and entity of such reaction is crucial, allowing the clearance of the pathogen or rather contributing to the extent of sometimes irreversible brain tissue damage
Staphylococcus aureus: applicazione della elettroforesi pulsata (PFGE) a stipiti Meticillino-resistenti di origine umana e animale
Potent antifungal effects of a new derivative of partricin A in a murine model of cerebral cryptococcosis
A new member of the polyene family, N-dimethylaminoacetyl-partricin A 2-dimethylaminoethylamide diaspartate (SPA),was investigated and was found to be more effective than amphotericin B (i) in vivo by enhancing mouse resistance to cryptococcal meningoencephalitis and (ii) in vitro by potentiating the anticryptococcal activity of murine microglial cells
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