Phagocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans by alveolar macrophages.

AUTOR(ES)

Bulmer, G S

RESUMO

Guinea pig pulmonary macrophages phagocytized but did not kill nonencapsulated cells of Cryptococcus neoformans. The phagocytic process was inhibited by cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide. Pulmonary macrophages, activated by preinjecting heat-killed bacteria into intact animals, did not kill the engulfed yeast cells. Labeled cells of C. neoformans were neither killed nor cleared from guinea pig lungs 6 h postexposure. The results of our experiments indicate that during the first few hours after the lung is exposed to the infectious particle of C. neoformans the pulmonary macrophage does not function primarily to kill engulfed yeast cells. We believe that a rapid yet transient acute inflammatory response probably plays a major role in this process during the first few hours after C. neoformans enters the lung.

Documentos Relacionados

• Phagocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans by normal and thioglycolate-activated macrophages.
• Opsonization of Cryptococcus neoformans by human immunoglobulin G: role of immunoglobulin G in phagocytosis by macrophages.
• Kinetics of phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus by alveolar and peritoneal macrophages.
• Phagocytosis-induced injury of normal and activated alveolar macrophages.
• Release of Mycoplasma pneumoniae substances after phagocytosis by guinea pig alveolar macrophages.