Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected human blood monocytes and peritoneal macrophages have reduced anticryptococcal activity whereas HIV-infected alveolar macrophages retain normal activity

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-l) infection causes immune dysfunction. Mono-nuclear phagocytes (MNP) are immune effector cells against some intracellular pathogens and reservoirs for HIV-1. This study determined effects of HIV-Ion MNP-mediated antifungal function. MNP from seronegative volunteers were inoculated with HIV Bal or HIV IIlB ' MNP were infected with an avirulent clone of Cryptococcus neoformans; 48 h later, MNP were lysed and yeasts were counted. Viral replication was determined by reverse transcriptase and by visualiza-tion ofcytopathic effects. Monocytes and peritoneal macrophages exhibited reduced anticrypto-coccal activity 14 days after infection with HIV Bal but retained normal activity when infected with HIVIII B • Loss of anticryptococcal activity correlated with viral replication. Alveolar macrophages retained normal anticryptococcal activity whether infected with HIV Bal or HIVIIlB ' In vitro MNP-mediated antifungal activity may be altered by HIV-1 infection; this altered activity ap-pears to depend on viral tropism, viral replication, and MNP tissue origin. Mononuclear phagocytes (MNP) are important immune effector cells against both facultative and obligate intracellu-lar pathogens such as Cryptococcus neoformans, Toxoplasm