Increased resistance to systemic candidiasis in athymic or interleukin-10-depleted mice

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2000

Authors

Tavares, D (Author) Other; Paula Ferreira (Author) ICBAS; Arala Chaves, M (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Infectious Diseases

Vol. 182

Pages: 266-273

ISSN: 0022-1899

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 21 Citations

Scopus - 25 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-000-ZN4

DOI: 10.1086/315674

Abstract (EN): Candida albicans produces a virulence-associated immunomodulatory protein (p43), which activates lymphocytes polyclonally, suppresses specific antibody responses to Candida antigens, and potentiates systemic growth of C. albicans. In this study, athymic, unlike euthymic, C57BL/6 mice were resistant to systemic candidiasis and produced lower serum levels of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10. Pretreatment with p43 stimulated the production of both cytokines. Depletion of IL-10, but not of IL-4, in euthymic animals reestablished resistance and abrogated p43-dependent suppression of the specific antibody response and facilitated C. albicans growth. In agreement with these results, both immunosuppression and p43-mediated facilitation of the fungus growth were abolished in IL-10 knockout mice. These observations demonstrate the relevance of IL-10 in facilitating systemic candidiasis and suggest a critical role for the immunosuppressive virulence factor p43 in the process.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8