Secretion of TNF-alpha by alveolar macrophages in response to Candida albicans mannan.

Resident alveolar macrophages (AM phi) were tested for their ability to respond to Candida albicans mannan. AM phi were found to produce tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in vitro in response to mannan stimulation. TNF-alpha secretion was measured using ELISA and L929B cellular cytotoxicity assays. Cytotoxicity was neutralized in parallel L929B cell cultures by the addition of rabbit anti-TNF-alpha antibody. Mannan preparations were found to be free of contaminating LPS by Limulus assay. When AM phi were cultivated for 18 h at 37 degrees C, 67 micrograms of mannan stimulated the secretion of approximately 207 U/ml of TNF-alpha. By comparison, AM phi treated with 6.7 micrograms of LPS secreted approximately 257 U/ml of TNF-alpha. Optimal TNF-alpha production occurred between 9 and 18 h after mannan stimulation. Disparate mechanisms for stimulation of TNF-alpha secretion were suggested by differential sugar blockade of LPS- and mannan-induced TNF-alpha secretion. The addition of 2% D-mannose or 2% alpha-methyl-D-mannoside to AM phi cultures blocked mannan- but not LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha secretion. Furthermore, the addition of rabbit anti-mannan antibody to mannan-coated plastic culture dishes prevented TNF-alpha secretion by the mannan-sensitive RAW 264.7 cell line. Moreover, the data suggest that C. albicans mannan stimulated AM phi to secrete TNF-alpha by an LPS-independent receptor mechanism which may also function as a mannose receptor.