Adherence of Candida albicans to endothelial cells is inhibited by prostaglandin I₂

The adherence of Candida species yeast cells to bovine and human endothelium was measured. The adherence phenomenon is a saturable event which can be altered by the release of prostaglandin I₂ (PGI₂ or prostacyclin) by endothelial cells. Release of PGI₂ by endothelium has a protective effect, reducing Candida albicans yeast cell adherence to endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. Conversely, C. albicans appears to inhibit the release of PGI₂ by endothelial cells and thus perhaps is capable of increasing the number of yeast cells which adhere to endothelium. Furthermore, a long- acting analog of PGI₂, carbacyclin, reduced the number of yeast cells adhering to human platelet aggregates. Thus, it is possible that the release of PGI₂ by endothelium has a protective effect against the hematogenous dissemination of C. albicans and its ability to adhere to vascular endothelium and fibrin-platelet matrices.