Open AccessGlucuronoxylomannan exhibits potent immunosuppressive properties
Author(s) -
Monari Claudia,
Bistoni Francesco,
Vecchiarelli Anna
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
fems yeast research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1567-1364
pISSN - 1567-1356
DOI - 10.1111/j.1567-1364.2006.00072.x
Subject(s) - cryptococcus neoformans , biology , virulence , microbiology and biotechnology , fungus , immunosuppression , in vivo , in vitro , polysaccharide , immunology , gene , biochemistry , botany
Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungus responsible for life‐threatening infections in immunocompromised and occasionally in immunocompetent hosts. The fungus is endowed with several virulence factors such as its capsular polysaccharide, which plays a key role in virulence. The major component of capsular material of C. neoformans is glucuronoxylomannan, a polysaccharide that exhibits potent immunosuppressive properties in vitro and in vivo . Here we describe a new aspect relative to glucuronoxylomannan‐induced immunosuppression. In this review we analyze the suppressive effects of glucuronoxylomannan and the mechanisms leading to induction of apoptosis in T cells.