Monoclonal antibodies directed against extracellular matrix proteins reduce the adherence of Candida albicans to HEp-2 cells.

The presence of the extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins collagen types I and IV, laminin and fibronectin on the surface of HEp-2 cells was confirmed by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies directed against these ECM proteins reduced the adherence of C. albicans ATCC 44990 to HEp-2 cells, the greatest reductions being evident in assays which incorporated anti-collagen type IV monoclonal antibody. The ability of sugaramines to inhibit the adherence of C. albicans to a variety of cell types has been demonstrated previously and the most significant reduction in C. albicans-HEp-2 adherence was in assays which incorporated 0.2M galactosamine. The combination of anti-collagen IV monoclonal antibody and galactosamine reduced the adherence of C. albicans to HEp-2 cells by approximately 70% (p < 0.05).