Growth inhibition of Cryptococcus neoformans by cultured human monocytes: role of the capsule, opsonins, the culture surface, and cytokines

Abstract

Despite a presumed critical role of macrophages in the host response to cryptococcal infections, previous studies have failed to show growth inhibition of encapsulated Cryptococcus neoformans by human peripheral blood cultured monocyte-derived macrophages (MO-M phi). Here, we examined whether MO-M phi could be induced to inhibit growth of an encapsulated strain and an isogenic acapsular mutant strain of C. neoformans. MO-M phi were cultured in microwells, and inhibition was measured by comparing CFU at 0 and 24 h after fungal challenge. MO-M phi cultured on plastic surfaces failed to inhibit growth of the encapsulated strain, even in the presence of pooled human serum and/or anticapsular antibody. Moreover, the presence of anticapsular antibody significantly enhanced fungal growth. However, if MO-M phi were cultured on surfaces coated with fibronectin or poly-L-lysine (but not laminin or collagen) and yeast cells were opsonized with pooled human serum, then complete growth inhibition occurred. Preincubation with various concentrations of tumor necrosis factor, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, or supernatants from C. neoformans-stimulated lymphocytes failed to activate macrophages for enhanced antifungal activity. The addition of gamma interferon resulted in a significant loss of growth inhibition. For the acapsular strain, complete growth inhibition was observed regardless of the choice of culture surface, opsonins, or cytokines. Fungicidal activity, as measured by a significant decrement in CFU compared with the initial inoculum, was not observed under any conditions tested. These data demonstrate that macrophages are capable of inhibiting cryptococcal growth but that this capacity is markedly influenced by the culture surface, opsonins, cytokines, and the fungal capsule.