Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

In vitro determination of phagocytosis and intracellular killing of Aspergillus species by mononuclear phagocytes

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Mycopathologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We investigated phagocytosis and intracellular killing of clinical and environmental isolates of Aspergillus spp. by human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs). Serial pathogens such as Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus terreus were examined with a microbiological assay. Phagocytosis for resting conidia of Aspergillus spp. was similar for all isolates tested. During 30 min of incubation phagocytosis ranged from 49.9% to 85.5% for clinical isolates and from 40.3% to 87.1% for environmental isolates. MDMs killed A. fumigatus, A. flavus and A. terreus conidia after ingestion for 120 min, as shown by a decrease in colony forming units (cfu) count of intracellular fungi. The killing index for all isolates of Aspergillus spp., ranged from 12.1 ± 1.1% to 90.3 ± 10.4%; isolate-dependent (P < 0.01) differences against the fungicidal action of MDMs were observed. In conclusion, significant differences were noted for killing indices between several strains of Aspergillus spp. whereas phagocytosis was similar for all isolates tested in vitro. No differences were observed within environmental and clinical isolates.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

MDMs:

Monocyte derived macrophages

References

  1. Anaissie E. Opportunistic mycoses in the immunocompromised host: experience at a cancer center and review. Clin Infect Dis 1992;14 Suppl 1:43–53.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Wald A, Leisenring W, van Burik JA, Bowden RA. Epidemiology of Aspergillus infections in a large cohort of patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation. J Infect Dis 1997;175:1459–66.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Patterson TF, Kirkpatrick WR, White M, Hiemenz JW, Wingard JR, Dupont B, Rinaldi MG, Stevens DA, Graybill JR. Invasive aspergillosis. Disease spectrum, treatment practices, and outcomes. I3 Aspergillus study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2000;79:250–60.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Walsh TJ, Groll A, Hiemenz J, Fleming R, Roilides E, Anaissie E. Infections due to emerging and uncommon medically important fungal pathogens. Clin Microbiol Infect 2004;10 Suppl 1:48–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Denning DW. Invasive Aspergillosis. Clin Infect Dis 1998;26:781–805.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Offner F, Cordonnier C, Ljungman P, Prentice HG, Englhard D, DeBacquer D, Meunier F, de Pauw B. Impact of previous aspergillosis on the outcome of bone marrow transplantation. Clin Infect Dis 1998;26:1098–103.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Herbrecht R, Denning DW, Patterson TF, Bennett JE, Greene RE, Oestmann JW, Kern WV, Marr KA, Ribaud P, Lortholary O, Sylvester R, Rubin RH, Wingard JR, Stark P, Durand C, Caillot D, Thiel E, Chandrasekar PH, Hodges MR, Schlamm HT, Troke PF, de Pauw B. Voriconazole versus amphotericin B for primary therapy of invasive aspergillosis. N Engl J Med 2002;347:408–15.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Lass-Flörl C, Griff K, Mayr A, Petzer A, Gastl G, Bonatti H, Freund M, Kropshofer G, Dierich MP, Nachbaur D. Epidemiology and outcome of infections due to Aspergillus terreus: 10-year single centre experience. Br J Haematol 2005;131:201–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Walsh TJ, Roilides E, Cortez K, Kottilil S, Bailey J, Lyman CA. Control, immunoregulation, and expression of innate pulmonary host defenses against Aspergillus fumigatus. Med Mycol 2005;43 Suppl 1:165–72.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Schaffner A, Douglas H, Braude A. Selective protection against conidia by mononuclear and against mycelia by polymorphonuclear phagocytes in resistance to Aspergillus. Observations on these two lines of defence in vivo and in vitro with human and mouse phagocytes. J Clin Invest 1982; 69:617–31.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Roilides E, Lyman CA, Filioti J, Akpogheneta O, Sein T, Lamaignere CG, Petraitiene R, Walsh TJ. Amphotericin B formulations exert additive antifungal activity in combination with pulmonary alveolar macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes against Aspergillus fumigatus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2002;46:1974–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Schaffner A, Douglas H, Braude A, Davis C. Killing of Aspergillus spores depends on the anatomical source of the macrophage. Infect Immun 1983;42:1109–15.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Dubourdeau M, Athman R, Balloy V, Philippe B, Sengmanivong L, Chignard M, Philpott DJ, Latgè JP, Ibrahim-Granet O. Interaction of Aspergillus fumigatus with the alveolar macrophage. Med Mycol 2006; 44 Suppl1:213–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Roilides E, Sein T, Holmes A, Chanock S, Blake C, Pizzo PA, Walsh T. Effects of macrophage colony-stimulating factor on antifungal activity of mononuclear phagocytes against Aspergillus fumigatus. J Infect Dis 1995;172:1028–34.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Jahn B, Rampp A, Dick C, Jahn A, Palmer M, Bhakdi S. Accumulation of amphotericin B in human macrophages enhances activity against Aspergillus fumigatus conidia: quantification of conidia kill at the single-cell level. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1998;2:2569–75.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Akpogheneta O, Gil-Lamaignere C, Maloukou A, Roilides E. EUROFUNG Network. Antifungal activity of human polymorphonuclear and mononuclear phagocytes against non-fumigatus Aspergillus species. Mycoses 2003;46:77–83.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Kacani L, Frank I, Spruth M, Schwendinger M, Müllauer B, Sprinzl G, Steindl F, Dierich MP. Dentritic cells transmit human immunodeficiency virus type 1 to monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages. J Virol 1998;72:6671–7.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Leijh PC, Van Furth R, Van Zwet TL. In vitro determination of phagocytosis and intracellular killing by polymorphonuclear and mononuclear phagocytes. In: Weir MD, Herzenberg LA, Blackwell C, editors. Handbook of experimental immunology. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications; 1986. p. 1–21.

  19. Philippe B, Ibrahim-Granet O, Prevost MC, Gousgerot-Pocidalo MA, Sanchez Perez M, Van der Meeren A, Latgé JP. Killing of Aspergillus fumigatus by alveolar macrophages is mediated by reactive oxidant intermediates. Infect Immun 2003;71:3034–42.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Latgé JP. Aspergillus fumigatus and aspergillosis. Clin Microbiol Rev 1999;12:310–50.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Singh N, Paterson DL. Aspergillus infections in transplant recipients. Clin Microbiol Rev 2005;18:44–69.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Stuartevant J, Latgé JP. Participation of complement in the phagocytosis of the conidia of Aspergillus fumigatus by human polymorphonuclear cells. J Infect Dis 1992; 166:580–6.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Luther K, Rohde M, Heesemann J, Ebel F. Quantification of phagocytosis of Aspergillus conidia by macrophages using a novel antibody-independent assay. J Microbiol Methods 2006;66:170–3.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Murayama T, Amitani R, Ikegami Y, Newada R, Lee WJ, Kuze F. Suppressive effects of Aspergillus fumigatus culture filtrates on human alveolar macrophages and polymorphonuclear leucocytes. Europ J Resp 1996; 9:293–300.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Akpogheneta O, Gil-Lamaignere C, Maloukou A, Roilides E. EUROFUNG Network. Antifungal activity of human polymorphonuclear and mononuclear phagocytes against non-fumigatus Aspergillus species. Mycoses 2003;46:77–83.

  26. De Repentigny L, Petitbois S, Boushira M, Michaliszyn E, Senechal S, Gendron N, Montplaisir S. Acquired immunity in experimental murine aspergillosis is mediated by macrophages. Infect Immun 1993;61: 3791–802.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Levitz SM, Selsted ME, Ganz T, Lehrer RI, Diamond R. In vitro killing of spores and hyphae of Aspergillus fumigatus and Rhizopus oryzae by rabbit neutrophil cationic peptides and bronchoalveolar macrophages. J Infect Dis 1986;154:483–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Social Medicine, Medical University Innsbruck, Fritz Pregl Strasse 3, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    Susanne Perkhofer, Cornelia Speth, Manfred P. Dierich & Cornelia Lass-Flörl

Authors
  1. Susanne Perkhofer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cornelia Speth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Manfred P. Dierich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Cornelia Lass-Flörl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Susanne Perkhofer.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Perkhofer, S., Speth, C., Dierich, M.P. et al. In vitro determination of phagocytosis and intracellular killing of Aspergillus species by mononuclear phagocytes. Mycopathologia 163, 303–307 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-007-9013-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-007-9013-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation