Inflammatory responses to cryptococcosis in congenitally athymic mice

J Leukoc Biol. 1991 Jun;49(6):533-41. doi: 10.1002/jlb.49.6.533.

Abstract

Histopathology revealed that nu/nu mice developed both acute and chronic inflammatory responses following infection with Cryptococcus neoformans. In comparison to inflammatory responses in nu/+ mice, the responses in nu/nu mice were delayed, less intense, contained predominantly more polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) than macrophages (M phi s), and did not develop into granulomas. In addition, nu/nu mice developed cryptococcal skin lesions demonstrating that C. neoformans is dermatotropic in a T-cell deficient host. Quantitative culturing of infected organs confirmed that delayed and incomplete inflammatory responses observed in nu/nu mice correlated with their enhanced susceptibility to C. neoformans.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cryptococcosis / complications*
  • Cryptococcosis / pathology
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / isolation & purification
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / physiology
  • Dermatitis / pathology
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Encephalitis / pathology
  • Hepatitis, Animal / pathology
  • Inflammation / etiology*
  • Inflammation / microbiology
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / pathology
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neutrophils / pathology
  • Pneumonia / pathology
  • Skin Diseases, Infectious / pathology
  • Splenic Diseases / pathology