INCREASED CLEARANCE OF CANDIDA-ALBICANS FROM THE PERITONEAL-CAVITY OF MICE PRETREATED WITH CONCANAVALIN-A OR JACALIN

We have studied the role of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages in the clearance of Candida albicans from the peritoneal cavity of Swiss mice after treatment with jacalin or concanavalin A (Con-A). Mice (25-30 g, N = 7 per group) received jacalin or Con-A (500 mu g/0.5 ml PBS) intraperitoneally 96 h before intraperitoneal inoculation of 5 x 10(7) yeast cells. The clearance of Candida from the peritoneal cavity was complete 24 h after inoculation for animals pretreated with jacalin and 48 h after inoculation for animals pretreated with Con-A, whereas a reduction to 4 x 10(4) yeast cells/cavity occurred in control animals 48 h after inoculation. Pretreatment with jacalin or Con-A reduced the recovery of C. albicans from spleen, kidney and liver 10- to 80-fold compared to control animals. Pretreatment with the lectins increased the number of phagocytic cells in the peritoneal exudate 5- to 10-fold and their candidacidal activity was increased 6-fold compared to controls. These data explain the increased rate of clearance and reduced yeast dissemination to the viscera of lectin-treated mice.