AJP-Cell Articles in PresS. Published on August 28, 2002 as DOI 10.1152/ajpcell.00160.2002
IMMUNOCOMPETENCE OF MACROPHAGES IN RATS EXPOSED TO Candida albicans INFECTION AND STRESS.
MARIA CECILIA RODRIGUEZ-GALÁN, CLAUDIA SOTOMAYOR, MARIA EUGENIA COSTAMAGNA, ANA MARIA CABANILLAS, BEATRIZ SALIDO RENTERÍA, ANA MARIA MASINI-REPISO, AND SILVIA CORREA.
Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba.
Corresponding author: Silvia Correa. Inmunología, Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón Argentina. (5000) Córdoba. Argentina. e-mail:
[email protected]
Running title: Macrophage immunocompetence
Key words: arginase, nitric oxide, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-1ra.
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Copyright 2002 by the American Physiological Society.
ABSTRACT
A proper integration between the innate and the adaptive immune systems is required for efficient control of Candida albicans. When the homeostasis is disturbed the transition of C. albicans into an opportunistic pathogen is not uncommon and disseminated candidiasis of endogenous origin may occur. The present work aimed to assess, at the local site of the infection, the immunocompetence of macrophages in rats infected intraperitoneally with C. albicans and exposed simultaneously to stress during three days (CaS group). We studied 1) the ability to remove and kill C. albicans, 2) the TNF-α release, 3) the balance of the inducible enzymes nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase, and 4) the expression of IL1β and IL-1ra mRNA. Compared with only infected animals (Ca group) the number of CFU was significantly higher in CaS rats (p
