Abstract: The chemotactic activity of Candida albicans proteinase toward human peripheral leukocytes was examined by a modified Boyden chamber method.It was found that C.albicans proteinase induce dose-dependent chemotactic activity for neutrophils with maximal activity at 500 nmol/L(P< 0.001).Chemotactic activity was significantly reduced after 10 min treatment at 100℃.Checkerboard analysis indicated that C.albicans proteinase is chemotactic and activates neutrphils chemically.Mild chemotactic activity was observed for peripheral lymphocytes.C.albicans proteinase injected intraderreally into the skin of 3 guinea pigs,it induced significantly more infiltration of neutrophils(29 cells/field)around the dermal vessels than did phosphate buffered saline(3 cells/field,P<0.05)at the 3hour biopsy samples.These results suggest that C.albicans proteinase,which theoretically acts as a hydrolase for fungal invasion and growth,induces the migration of peripheral neutrophils to the C.albicans-infected site.

Key words: Candida albicans, Proteinase, Chemotaxis, Neutrophil, Lymphocyte