MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES DIRECTED AGAINST EXTRACELLULAR-MATRIX PROTEINS REDUCE THE ADHERENCE OF CANDIDA-ALBICANS TO HEP-2 CELLS

The presence of the extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins collagen types I and IV, laminin and fibronectin on the surface of HEp-2 cells was c onfirmed by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal ant ibodies directed against these ECM proteins reduced the adherence of C . albicans ATCC 44990 to KEp-2 cells, the greatest reductions being ev ident in assays which incorporated anti-collagen type IV monoclonal an tibody. The ability of sugaramines to inhibit the adherence of C. albi cans; to a variety of cell types has been demonstrated previously and the most significant reduction in C. albicans - HEp-2 adherence was in assays which incorporated 0.2 M galactosamine. The combination of ant i-collagen IV monoclonal antibody and galactosamine reduced the adhere nce of C albicans to HEp-2 cells by approximately 70% (p < 0.05).