Relevance of Macrophage Extracellular Traps in C. albicans Killing

Abstract

Candida albicans causes systemic life-threatening infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, such as patients in intensive care units, patients undergoing chemotherapy, and post-surgical and neutropenic patients. The proliferation of invading Candida cells is mainly limited by the action of the human innate immune system, in which phagocytic cells play a fundamental role. This function is, however, limited in neutropenic patients, who rely mainly on the protective immunity mediated by macrophages. Macrophages have been shown to release extracellular DNA fibers, known as macrophage extracellular traps (METs), which can entrap and kill various microbes by a process called ETosis. In this study, we observed that, upon contact with C. albicans, macrophages became active in phagocyting and engulfing yeast cells. ETosis was induced in 6% of macrophages within the first 30 min of contact, and this percentage increased with the multiplicity of infection until a plateau was reached. After 2.5 h incubation, the presence of extracellular macrophage DNA was observed in approximately half of the cells. This study suggests that the formation of METs occurs before pyroptosis (first 6–8 h) and macrophage cell death (up to 24 h), and thus, METs could be included in models describing C. albicans–macrophage interactions. We also observed that macrophage ETosis and phagocytosis can occur simultaneously and that, in the first hours of infection, both processes are similarly important in controlling the proliferation of yeast cells, this being critical in neutropenic patients. Finally, it can also be concluded that, since C. albicans can degrade DNA, the structural component of METs, yeast extracellular DNase activity can be considered as an important virulence factor.

The Role of Macrophages in Staphylococcus aureus Infection

“…Similarly, METs were induced in J774 cells in response to E. coli and Candida albicans , with authors suggesting that the role of METs is to slow dissemination of microbes ( 394 ). However, phagocytosis and MET formation have been observed to coincide for control and clearance of C. albicans ( 395 ).…”

Sphaerostilbellins, New Antimicrobial Aminolipopeptide Peptaibiotics from Sphaerostilbella toxica

“…Compound 1 showed a consistent two to four times lower MIC when compared to compound 2 . Compounds 1 and 2 were also tested for toxicity against the murine macrophage-like cell line J774A.1 This cell line has been used extensively to assess in vitro phagocytic and antifungal activity against C. neoformans and other fungal pathogens [ 23 , 40 ]. Each compound displayed much higher inhibition/toxicity against these mammalian cells compared to fungal and bacterial cells, potentially arguing against their acting as non-specific cell toxins ( Table 3 ).…”

Multiple Origins of Extracellular DNA Traps

“…C. albicans can simultaneously stimulate ET release and phagocytosis in macrophages ( 109 ). In this study, it was observed that the release of ET macrophages occurs before cell death ( 109 ). In vitro , placental macrophages generate ETs in response to Streptococcus agalactiae .…”