Influence of the Bcg locus on macrophage response to the dimorphic fungus Candida albicans

Abstract

The Bcg/Ity/Lsh gene (candidate Nramp) controls natural resistance to several parasites, such as Mycobacterium bovis, Leishmania donovani, and Salmonella typhimurium. Using two macrophage (Mφ) cell lines (B10R and B10S) derived from mouse strains congenic at Bcg, we found that Mφs from resistant mice (B10R Mφs) act more effectively against the two morphogenetic forms of the dimorphic fungus Candida albicans compared with Mφs from susceptible mice (B10S Mφs). Moreover, when assessed for tumor necrosis factor secretion in response to the hyphal form of C. albicans, B10R Mφs are significantly more effective at expressing this secretory function than are B10S Mφs, closely resembling the trend of response to lipopolysaccharide. Overall, these results provide insight into the influence of the Beg locus on the Mφ response to C. albicans.