In vivo activity of interferon-gamma in combination with amphotericin B in the treatment of experimental cryptococcosis.
The effect of recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) on Cryptococcus neoformans infection was investigated in vivo. BALB/c mice were injected intravenously with 2 x 10(6) C. neoformans. rIFN-gamma alone (10 micrograms intraperitoneally 18 h before, at, 24 h after infection) significantly increased the survival and decreased the colony-forming unit counts in the lungs compared with untreated mice. rIFN-gamma association significantly enhanced the effect of a single dose of amphotericin B (0.25 mg/kg 24 h after infection) to prolong mouse survival and to reduce colony counts in the brain. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels, measured in spleen 3, 6, and 24 h after infection, were not increased by rIFN-gamma. These results suggest that exogenous rIFN-gamma might improve the effect of antifungal therapy during cryptococcosis.
Joly
V
V
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité 13, Faculté Xavier Bichat, Paris, France.
Saint-Julien
L
L
Carbon
C
C
Yeni
P
P
D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000666:Amphotericin B; D007371:Interferon-gamma