Enhanced killing of Candida albicans by cultured peritoneal exudate cells treated with SM-1213, a synthetic immunomodulator.

The effect of SM-1213 [1,2-O-isopropylidene-3-O-3'-(N', N'-dimethylamino-n-propyl)-D-glucofuranose] on the candidastatic and candidacidal capacity of guinea pig peritoneal exudate cells was investigated. Phagocytes treated with SM-1213 demonstrated an enhanced ability to inhibit intracellular hyphal formation and elongation of Candida albicans cells as well as to reduce the percentage of viable cells remaining after phagocytosis. Significant drug-induced anticandidal effects were also observed when peritoneal exudate cells were preincubated with SM-1213 and washed before infection with C. albicans. SM-1213 had no direct anticandidal effect against the yeast or hyphal form of the fungus, suggesting that the observed candidastatic and candidacidal effect of this drug was due to the enhancement of antimicrobial functions of phagocytes.