Regulation of cytokine expression in mice immunized with cryptococcal polysaccharide, a glucuronoxylomannan (GXM), associated with peritoneal antigen-presenting cells (APC): requirements for GXM, APC activation, and interleukin-12.

Mice immunized with peritoneal exudate cells (PEC; used as antigen-presenting cells [APC]) that are pulsed ex vivo with cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide, a glucuronoxylomannan (GXM), exhibit increased survival times and delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions when they are infected with Cryptococcus neoformans. These responses are GXM specific. The present study revealed that GXM-APC immunization enhanced development of anticryptococcal type-1 cytokine responses (interleukin-2 [IL-2] and gamma interferon) in mice infected with C.