Candidiasis in interferon-gamma knockout (IFN-gamma-/-) mice.
Germ-free C57BL/6 x 129 interferon-gamma knockout (IFN-gamma(-/-)) mice and their immunocompetent (+/-, +/+) counterparts were colonized with a pure culture of Candida albicans to assess their natural susceptibility to mucosal and systemic candidiasis of endogenous origin. Colonization with a pure culture of C. albicans was not lethal for adult or neonatal IFN-gamma(-/-) gnotobiotic mice over the 15-week study. The IFN-gamma(-/-) mice were more susceptible to gastric (cardia-antrum section), anorectal, and acute systemic (intravenous challenge) candidiasis than immunocompetent controls, and some IFN-gamma(-/-) mice developed intestinal adenomas after colonization with C. albicans. The enhanced susceptibility of IFN-gamma(-/-) mice, compared with immunocompetent controls, may be associated with a poor proliferative response of spleen cells to C. albicans antigens and a T helper 2 (IgG1) serum antibody response to C. albicans antigens. Thus, IFN-gamma is important for murine resistance to gastric, anorectal, and acute systemic candidiasis.
University of Wisconsin Medical School, Department of Medical Microbiology, Madison 53706-1532, USA. balish@surgery.wisc.edu
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Balish
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Wagner
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Vázquez-Torres
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Pierson
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Warner
D000236:Adenoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000097:blood; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology
D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008934:Mitogens; D003208:Concanavalin A; D007371:Interferon-gamma