DIFFERENTIAL-EFFECTS OF CD4+ AND CD8+ CELLS IN ACUTE, SYSTEMIC MURINE CANDIDOSIS

Monoclonal antibody (mAb) depletion was used to assess contributions of CD4+ and CD8+ cells in resistance to systemic murine Candida albicans infection. Depletion of CD8+ cells did not influence either survival or mean survival time (MST); however, depletion of CD4+ cells significantly enhanced both survival and MST. Combined depletion of both CD4+ and CD8+ cells significantly lengthened the MST but did not enhance survival. A protective influence of CD8+ cells could be deduced but, to be manifested, required depletion of an overshadowing immunopathologic CD4+ response.