Abstract
BackgroundCandidemia is a severe fungal infection that primarily affects hospitalized and/or immunocompromised patients. Mononuclear phagocytes have been recognized as pivotal immune cells which act in the recognition of pathogens, phagocytosis, inflammation, polarization of adaptive immune response and tissue repair. Experimental studies have showed that the systemic candidiasis could be controlled by activated peritoneal macrophages. However, the mechanism to explain how these cells act in distant tissue during a systemic fungal infection is still to be elucidated. In the present study we investigate the in vivo trafficking of phagocytic peritoneal cells into infected organs in hypoinsulinemic-hyperglycemic (HH) mice with systemic candidiasis.MethodsThe red fluorescent vital dye PKH-26 PCL was injected into the peritoneal cavity of Swiss mice 24 hours before the intravenous inoculation with Candida albicans. After 24 and 48 hours and 7 days of infection, samples of the spleen, liver, kidneys, brain and lungs were submitted to the microbiological evaluation as well as to phagocytic peritoneal cell trafficking analyses by fluorescence microscopy.ResultsIn the present study, PKH+ cells were observed in the peritoneum, kidney, spleen and liver samples from all groups. In infected mice, we also found PKH+ cells in the lung and brain. The HH condition did not affect this process.ConclusionsIn the present study we have observed that peritoneal phagocytes migrate to tissues infected by C. albicans and the HH condition did not interfere in this process.
Highlights
Candidemia is a severe fungal infection that primarily affects hospitalized and/or immunocompromised patients
Experimental design Sixty Swiss mice were distributed into 4 groups: Group Ca, which was composed of 18 C. albicans-infected mice; Group HH-Ca, composed of 18 HH-induced and C. albicans-infected mice; Group HH, composed of 18 HH-induced mice; and Control Group (CTL), composed of 6 free HH-induced and non-infected mice which were subjected to the same inoculation procedures using sterile saline solution (SSS)
HH condition leads to an increase of fungal load The intravenous inoculation of C. albicans resulted in acute systemic dissemination affecting the kidney, spleen, liver, lung and brain
Summary
Candidemia is a severe fungal infection that primarily affects hospitalized and/or immunocompromised patients. Experimental studies have showed that the systemic candidiasis could be controlled by activated peritoneal macrophages. In the present study we investigate the in vivo trafficking of phagocytic peritoneal cells into infected organs in hypoinsulinemic-hyperglycemic (HH) mice with systemic candidiasis. Macrophages are pivotal immune cells which act in the Conchon-Costa et al [12] demonstrated the possibility of controlling systemic candidiasis by activated peritoneal macrophages in the experimental model of Concanavalin A (ConA)-treated mice, using intraperitoneal route during systemic candidiasis. The researchers observed a decrease of the mortality of treated-mice challenged with a lethal dose of Candida albicans. This event was associated with increased TNF-α production, mannose receptor expression and candidacidal activity by peritoneal cells [12,13]
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