NITRIC OXIDE-DEPENDENT KILLING OF CANDIDA-ALBICANS BY MURINE PERITONEAL-CELLS DURING AN EXPERIMENTAL-INFECTION

The phagocytic and candidacidal activities of the peritoneal cells of Candida albicans-infected mice were studied 20 days following experime ntal infection. Both activities were enhanced during infection. The pr oduction of nitric oxide (NO) by the peritoneal cells of infected mice was determined, and an increase in the nitrite concentration in super natants of peritoneal cell cultures was detected. The period of NO pro duction by the peritoneal cells coincided partially with the period of enhanced C. albicans killing. The inhibition of NO synthesis by N-mon omethyl-L-arginine was concomitant with inhibition of candidacidal act ivity. We conclude that NO synthesis is the primary candidacidal mecha nism of the murine peritoneal cells activated by C. albicans infection .