PALMITOYL CARNITINE, A LYSOPHOSPHOLIPASE-TRANSACYLASE INHIBITOR, PREVENTS CANDIDA ADHERENCE IN-VITRO

Candida adherence is poorly understood. The results of this study indi cate that interactions of Candida with the lyse-forms of phospholipids may be one important attachment mechanism. C. tropicalis and C. albic ans adhered to purified lysophospholipids immobilized on microtiter we lls, as well as to a human laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma (HEp-2) cell line. Adherence to both lysophospholipids and HEp-2 cells was signifi cantly reduced by palmitoyl carnitine, a lysophospholipase-transacylas e inhibitor. Over time there was a positive correlation between Candid a adherence and its transacylase activity. The data suggest that palmi toyl carnitine interferes with Candida adherence to lysophospholipids and the HEp-2 cell line by blocking the interaction between the Candid a-associated transacylase enzyme receptor site and its lysophospholipi d substrate ligand.