Fungicidal activity of Candida albicans-induced murine lymphokine-activated killer cells against C. albicans hyphae in vitro

Natural Killer Cells and Antifungal Host Response

“…The majority of studies demonstrate that both murine and human NK cells exhibit in vitro activity against various fungi, such as Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, or Rhizopus oryzae (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18). However, at the same time, one has to recognize that the reported results are inhomogeneous and sometimes seemingly contradictory.…”

Production and function of cytokines in natural and acquired immunity to Candida albicans infection.

“…Administration of a single dose of recombinant human IL-2 (rhIL-2) to the Candida-treated mice increased NK cell activity but did not activate LAK-like effectors (305), whereas rhIL-2 given in combination with the inactivated yeast strongly increased both the cellularity of the peritoneal exudate and the cytotoxic activity of the peritoneal NK and LAK cells (304). These LAK-like cells, induced either in vivo or in vitro, exhibit high levels of activity against C. albicans hyphae (302). The biological relevance of this phenomenon is unknown, although it has been suggested that it may represent a second level of host defense against C. albicans hyphal forms in immunosuppressed mice (302).…”

“…These LAK-like cells, induced either in vivo or in vitro, exhibit high levels of activity against C. albicans hyphae (302). The biological relevance of this phenomenon is unknown, although it has been suggested that it may represent a second level of host defense against C. albicans hyphal forms in immunosuppressed mice (302).…”