title: Effects of interleukin-13 on antifungal activity of human monocytes against Candida albicans.
abstract: We investigated the effects of human interleukin-13 (IL-13) on human monocytes' (MNC) activities against Candida albicans, an important human pathogen. Increased phagocytosis of blastoconidia was observed after incubation with 50 U ml(-1) of IL-13 for 4 h or 48 h in the presence or absence of serum. The latter effect was inhibited by anti-IL-13 monoclonal antibody or mannose. Incubation of MNC with 50 U ml(-1) of IL-13 for 2 h significantly enhanced superoxide anion production in response to phorbol myristate acetate. IL-13 did not, however, alter the damage caused by MNC to hyphae, whereas it suppressed killing of blastoconidia. IL-13 has variable effects on MNC activities and may play an important immunoregulatory role against C. albicans.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Pediatrics, Aristotle University, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki GR-54642, Greece.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katsifa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsaparidou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Diza
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gil-Lamaignere
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roilides
mesh_terms: D002176:Candida albicans / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018793:Interleukin-13