隐球菌致病的免疫学机制研究进展

Research Progress in Immunological Mechanisms of Cryptococcus

感染隐球菌是否致病主要取决于病菌的毒力及机体免疫防御能力。机体免疫功能低下或缺陷易感染新型隐球菌,而格特隐球菌易感染免疫功能正常的宿主。一方面,宿主免疫细胞可通过复杂的免疫防御机制杀灭入侵的隐球菌;另一方面,隐球菌可通过多种策略逃避机体宿主细胞的清除作用(免疫逃逸)。本综述主要阐述隐球菌的致病过程和机体防御隐球菌感染的免疫学机制。

Whether infection of Cryptococcus causes disease in host or not depends on the virulence of the pathogen and the immune defense ability of the host. Cryptococcus neoformans(C. neoformans)mainly causes opportunistic infections in the immunocompromised or immunodeficient patients. In contrast, Cryptococcus gattii(C. gattii)mainly attacks the immunocompetent individuals. On the one hand, the host immune cells can eliminate the invasive Cryptococcus through a complex immune mechanism;on the other hand, Cryptococcus can evade the clearance of host immune cells by adopting various strategies(immune escape). This review mainly focuses on the pathogenic mechanism of Cryptococcus, and the host's immune defense mechanism against cryptococcal infection.