Gene expression profiling of monocytes displaying herpes simplex virus 1 induced dysregulation of antifungal defences.

Recently, we showed that herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1)-infected monocytes have altered antifungal defences, in particular they show augmented phagocytosis of Candida albicans followed by a failure of the intracellular killing of the ingested fungi. On the basis of these functional data, comparative studies were carried out on the gene expression profile of cells infected with HSV-1 and/or C. albicans in order to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying such virus-induced dysfunction. Affymetrix GeneChip technology was used to evaluate the cell transcription pattern, focusing on genes involved in phagocytosis, fungal adhesion, antimicrobial activity and apoptosis. The results indicated there was: (a) prevalent inhibition of opsonin-mediated phagocytosis, (b) upregulation of several pathways of antibody- and complement-independent phagocytosis, (c) inhibition of macrophage activation, (d) marked dysregulation of oxidative burst, (e) induction of apoptosis.