Hemic and Immune Systems Commons^™

Candida-Induced Granulocytic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Are Protective Against Polymicrobial Sepsis, Shannon Esher Righi, Amanda J. Harriett, Elizabeth A. Lilly, Paul L. Fidel Jr., Mairi C. Noverr

School of Dentistry Faculty Publications

Polymicrobial intra-abdominal infections (IAI) can lead to life-threatening sepsis with significant morbidity and mortality, especially when pathogenic fungi are involved. We have employed an established clinically relevant mouse model of fungal/bacterial IAI and shown that immunization with low-virulence Candida species, that is, Candida dubliniensis, can induce responses that protect against sepsis via the suppression of lethal inflammation. This protection is dependent on long-lived Gr-1(+) polymorphonuclear leukocytes that display characteristics consistent with myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and trained innate immunity. Here we aimed to functionally and phenotypically characterize these protective Gr-1(+) leukocytes. Compared to nonimmunized control mice, we observed increased levels …