Fig 7. Model of how kininogen and vitronectin function as bridging molecules that bind to Candida spp. and induce endocytosis by human endothelial cells.

Vitronectin binds to the surface of the organism, which enhances the binding of kininogen. When the organism comes in contact with the endothelial cell, vitronectin interacts mainly with the integrins αvβ3 and αvβ5 and whereas the vitronectin-kininogen complex interacts with both the αv integrins and gC1qR on the endothelial cells surface. These interactions mediate the adherence of the fungus to the endothelial cells and induce the endothelial cells to endocytose the organism.