Glucuronoxylomannan exhibits potent immunosuppressive properties

Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungus responsible for life-threatening infections in immunocompromised and occasionally in immunocompetent hosts. The fungus is endowed with several virulence factors such as its capsular polysaccharide, which plays a key role in virulence. The major component of capsular material of C. neoformans is glucuronoxylomannan, a polysaccharide that exhibits potent immunosuppressive properties in vitro and in vivo. Here we describe a new aspect relative to glucuronoxylomannan-induced immunosuppression. In this review we analyze the suppressive effects of glucuronoxylomannan and the mechanisms leading to induction of apoptosis in T cells. © 2006 Federation of European Microbiological Societies Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.