Candida Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Candida, including details on thrush infections, yeast, diet, treatment, symptoms. | ||||||||
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Endogenous interleukin (IL)-1 alpha and IL-1 beta are crucial for host defense against disseminated candidiasis.Vonk AG, Netea MG, van Krieken JH, Iwakura Y, van der Meer JW, Kullberg BJ Department of Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-1 alpha and IL-1 beta are protective proinflammatory cytokines involved in host defense against Candida albicans. It is, however, unknown whether they provide protection through similar mechanisms. We investigated the effect of endogenous IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta on disseminated C. albicans infection. METHODS: Mice deficient in the genes encoding IL-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha-/-), IL-1 beta (IL-1 beta-/-), or both molecules (IL-1 alpha-/- beta-/-) were used. Survival and C. albicans outgrowth in the kidneys was assessed after intravenous injection of C. albicans. RESULTS: Both mortality and C. albicans outgrowth in the kidneys were significantly increased in IL-1 alpha-/- and IL-1 beta-/- mice, compared with those in control mice, with the IL-1 alpha-/- beta-/- mice being most susceptible to disseminated candidiasis. The host defense mechanisms triggered by IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta differed from one another. IL-1 beta-/- mice showed decreased recruitment of granulocytes in response to an intraperitoneal C. albicans challenge, and generation of superoxide production was diminished in IL-1 beta-/- granulocytes. IL-1 alpha-/- mice had a reduced capacity to damage C. albicans pseudohyphae. Protective type 1 responses were deficient in both IL-1 alpha-/- and IL-1 beta-/- mice, as assessed by production of interferon-gamma by splenocytes in response to heat-killed C. albicans. CONCLUSION: Although IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta have differential effects on the various arms of host defense, both cytokines are essential for mounting a protective host response against invasive C. albicans infection. Published 18 April 2006 in J Infect Dis, 193(10): 1419-26.
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