Mannoprotein from Cryptococcus neoformans Promotes T-Helper Type 1 Anticandidal Responses in Mice

We previously demonstrated that mannoprotein (MP) from Cryptococcus neoformans (CnMP) stimulates interleukin-12 production by human monocytes, thus fostering a T-helper type 1 (Th1) protective anticryptococcal response. In this paper we show that CnMP was also able to induce a Candida albicans-directed protective Th1 response. This was demonstrated for mice immunized with CnMP by induction of a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction to C. albicans MP (CaMP) as well as induction of gamma interferon production by CD4(+) and CD8(+) splenic T cells stimulated in vitro with CaMP. CnMP-immunized mice were also partially protected from lethal systemic challenge with C. albicans, as shown by prolonged median survival times and decreased fungal burden in the kidney. Much evidence supports the validity of these cross-reactive and functional Th1 responses: (i) a non-cross-reactive C. albicans antigen, such as enolase, did not produce a DTH response to CaMP; (ii) passive adoptive transfer of T cells primed with CnMP induced a DTH reaction; (iii) C. neoformans extract elicited a DTH response to CaMP; and (iv) a monoclonal antibody (7H6) directed against a major and immunodominant T-cell-stimulatory 65-kDa MP (MP65) of C. albicans also recognized discrete 100-kDa constituents of C. neoformans extracts, as well as secretory constituents of the fungus. These results suggest the presence of common Th1 antigenic determinants in the mannoproteic material of C. neoformans and C. albicans epitopes, which should be considered in devising common strategies for immunoprophylactic or immunotherapeutic control of the fungi.