These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Caspofungin-mediated beta-glucan unmasking and enhancement of human polymorphonuclear neutrophil activity against Aspergillus and non-Aspergillus hyphae.
    Author: Lamaris GA, Lewis RE, Chamilos G, May GS, Safdar A, Walsh TJ, Raad II, Kontoyiannis DP.
    Journal: J Infect Dis; 2008 Jul 15; 198(2):186-92. PubMed ID: 18500936.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: We investigated whether caspofungin and other echinocandins have immune-enhancing properties that influence human polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN)-mediated mold hyphal damage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using aniline blue staining, we compared patterns of beta-glucan exposure in Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus terreus, Rhizopus oryzae, Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Scedosporium prolificans, and Scedosporium apiospermum hyphae after caspofungin exposure. We also determined PMN-mediated hyphal damage occurring with or without preexposure to caspofungin or with preexposure to the combination of caspofungin and anti-beta-glucan monoclonal antibody, using 2,3-bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino) carbonyl]-sH-tetrazolium hydroxide (XTT) assay. RESULTS: Preincubation with caspofungin (32 microg/mL for R. oryzae; 0.0625 microg/mL for other isolates) increased exposure to beta-glucan. PMN-induced damage increased after caspofungin exposure and was further augmented by the addition of anti-beta-glucan antibody. Preincubation with micafungin or anidulafungin had similar effects on PMN-induced damage of A. fumigatus hyphae. Finally, preexposure of A. fumigatus, but not S. prolificans, to caspofungin induced expression of Dectin-1 by PMN. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest inducement of beta-glucan unmasking by echinocandins and enhancement of PMN activity against mold hyphae, thereby supporting the immunopharmacologic mode of action of echinocandins.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]