Cell Wall Polysaccharides of Candida albicans Induce Mast Cell Degranulation in the Gut

Abstract

We investigated Candida albicans-induced mast cell degranulation in vitro and in vivo. Cell wall fraction but not culture supernatant and cell membrane fraction prepared from hyphally grown C. albicans induced β-hexosaminidase release in RBL-2H3 cells. Cell wall mannan and soluble β-glucan fractions also induced β-hexosaminidase release. Histological examination of mouse forestomach showed that C. albicans gut colonization induces mast cell degranulation. However, intragastric administration of cell wall fraction failed to induce mast cell degranulation. We propose that cell wall polysaccharides are responsible for mast cell degranulation in the C. albicans-colonized gut.