Inhibition of growth of trichophyton rubrum by the myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-chloride system

The myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-chloride (MPO-H₂O₂-Cl) system is an antimicrobial system of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. We demonstrated that the MPO-H202-C1 system is fungicidal for Trichophyton rubrum. Fungal growth of a synchronous cell culture of T. rubrum germlings was assayed by measuring the uptake of tritiated N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, and the viability of the fungi was assayed by counting colony-forming units. Cytotoxins produced by the interaction of myeloperoxidase with hydrogen peroxide and chloride ion were fungicidal for T. rubrum. Growth inhibition was abolished in the presence of catalase or L-methionine. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes through the MPO-H₂O₂-C1 system may prevent invasion and sepsis by dermatophytes even in the absence of specific immunity.