Candida albicans grown in glucose-free media contains serum-independent chemotactic activity.

Infection of skin with Candida albicans is usually followed by infiltration of neutrophil granulocytes (PMN). So far, chemotaxins for PMN have been isolated from C. albicans cultures grown in the presence of glucose. However, since glucose is not present in skin in vivo, a contribution of such factors to Candida-triggered cutaneous inflammation would appear unlikely. In order to clarify this question, chemotactic activity was measured in extracts from three different strains of C. albicans which were grown in five different peptone media free of carbohydrates and serum. In addition, four culture systems were supplemented with lipids normally present in human stratum corneum, including a triglyceride, cholesterol, and sphingomyelin. In all sugar-free grown cultures, serum-independent chemotactic activity was detected by use of the Boyden chamber technique. Since, as shown here in vitro, production of neutrophil chemotaxins by C. albicans is independent of glucose-feeding, a possible role of Candida-chemotaxins in the pathophysiology of cutaneous candidosis can no longer be excluded.