Induction of thymocytes apoptosis in mouse infected with Candida albicans
Objective To examine the influence of an in vivo infection by Candida albicans (C. albicans ) on apoptosis of mouse thymocytes. Methods The mouse thymocytes apoptosis were examined by staining (AO and EB), FCM and DNA electrophoresis. Results C. albicans elicited typical morphological changes of apoptosis in murine thymocytes with AO and EB stain, and typical peak of apoptosis with FCM, and thymic atrophy. The extracted DNA of thymocytes displayed the typical “ladder pattern” in agarose gel electrophoresis. The percentage of apoptotic cells rose with increasing doses of C. albicans. The percentage of apoptotic cells began to increase at 6h, and reached their highest level at 24h. The thymus weight significantly decreased at 12h, and reached their lowest level at 72h. Heat inactivated C. albicans was unable to induce apoptosis in murine thymocytes in vivo. The inhibitor of NOS (aminoguanidine) only partially inhibited the C. albicans induced apoptosis in murine in vivo. Conclusions The sepsis of C. albicans induces thymocytes apoptosis in a dose and time dependent manner. Apoptosis in murine thymocytes induced by C. albicans in vivo is depending on metabolism of the fungus. NO is partially related to apoptosis in murine thymocytes induced by C. albicans.