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Infection and Immunity, June 2006, p. 3096-3106, Vol. 74, No. 6
0019-9567/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.01213-05
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Differential Localization of Complement Component 3 within the Capsular Matrix of Cryptococcus neoformans

Marcellene A. Gates and Thomas R. Kozel*

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada 89557

Received 28 July 2005/ Returned for modification 5 September 2005/ Accepted 13 February 2006

The polysaccharide capsule of Cryptococcus neoformans is a powerful activator of the complement system. The goal of the present study was to assess serum and cellular variables that influence the sites for C3 binding within the capsular matrix. Confocal microscopy using fluorophore-labeled polyclonal anti-C3 and anticapsular monoclonal antibodies and rosetting of fluorescent microspheres coated with anti-C3 were used to identify sites of C3 binding relative to the capsular edge. The results showed that the source of serum was a major variable influencing localization of C3. C3 bound at or very near the capsular edge in the case of human serum. C3 deposition was further from the capsule edge with guinea pig and rat sera; in the case of mouse serum, there was no binding of C3 in the outer region of the capsule. Addition of human C3 to mouse serum led to deposition of the C3 at the capsular edge, indicating that distinct properties of mouse and human C3 account for the differential localization of C3. Finally, the density of the capsular matrix was an important variable in determining sites for C3 deposition. Yeast cells with a high concentration of polysaccharide near the capsule edge supported deposition of mouse C3 at or near the capsular edge, whereas cells with a low matrix density showed deposition well beneath the edge. Taken together, these results indicate that the spatial deposition of C3 within the capsular matrix is a complex process that is influenced by the serum source and the density of the capsular matrix.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology and Immunology/320, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, NV 89557. Phone: (775) 784-4124. Fax: (775) 327-2332. E-mail: trkozel{at}med.unr.edu.

Editor: A. Casadevall

Infection and Immunity, June 2006, p. 3096-3106, Vol. 74, No. 6
0019-9567/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.01213-05
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Beenhouwer, D. O., Yoo, E. M., Lai, C.-W., Rocha, M. A., Morrison, S. L. (2007). Human Immunoglobulin G2 (IgG2) and IgG4, but Not IgG1 or IgG3, Protect Mice against Cryptococcus neoformans Infection. Infect. Immun. 75: 1424-1435 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Pirofski, L.-A. (2006). Of Mice and Men, Revisited: New Insights into an Ancient Molecule from Studies of Complement Activation by Cryptococcus neoformans.. Infect. Immun. 74: 3079-3084 [Full Text]  


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