Korean J Med Mycol.  1996 Dec;1(1):35-45.

Expression of iC3b Receptor on Candida albicans and Its Role on Adhesion of the Yeast to Human Dermal Microvascular Endothelium

• Lee KH
• Yoon MS
• Yoon KH
• Choi HJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The adherence of microorganisms to host tissue is an important process in the pathogenesis of fungal infection. A protein that shares antigenic and structural homology with the alpha-subunit of leukocyte adhesion glycoprotein CD11b/CD18, also known as iC3b receptor, Mo-1 or Mac-1, has been isolated from the surface of C. albicans.
OBJECTIVE
This study was done to observe the changes in the expression of iC3b receptor on C. albicans by glucose or immunosuppressive agents and to elucidate the effect of glucose and anti-iC3b receptor antibodies on adhesion between human dermal microvascular endothelial cells(HDMEC) and C. albicans.
METHODS
We utilized immunofluorescence study and immunofluorescent flow cytometry and the binding assay of C. albicans to cultured HDMEC in vitro and blocking assay using monoclonal antibody were performed.
RESULTS
Immunofluorescence study and immunofluorescent flow cytometric analysis demonstrated surface expression of iC3b receptor on C. albicans. The expression of surface iC3b receptor on C. albicans in creased in a dose dependent manner with increasing concentrations of glucose, cyclophosphamide and prednisolone. The adherence of C. albicans to HDMEC correlated positively with glucose levels. The adherence of C. albicans to HDMEC decreased significantly by the treatment with anti-iC3b receptor antibodies.
CONCLUSION
The results suggest that iC3b receptors should be involved in the adherence of C. albicans to vascular endothelial cells and may be involved in the pathogenesis of hematogenous candidiasis

Keyword

Candida albicans; iC3b receptor; Human dermal microvascular endothelial cells; Adhesion

MeSH Terms

Antibodies
Candida albicans*
Candida*
Candidiasis
Complement C3b*
Cyclophosphamide
Endothelial Cells
Endothelium*
Flow Cytometry
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
Glucose
Glycoproteins
Humans*
Immunosuppressive Agents
Leukocytes
Prednisolone
Yeasts*
Antibodies
Complement C3b
Cyclophosphamide
Glucose
Glycoproteins
Immunosuppressive Agents
Prednisolone