title: The role of endogenous interleukin (IL)-18, IL-12, IL-1beta, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the production of interferon-gamma induced by Candida albicans in human whole-blood cultures.
abstract: Despite the importance of interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin (IL)-18 for host defense against candidiasis, the pathways leading to their stimulation by Candida albicans are unclear. In a whole-blood model, IL-18 neutralization by IL-18 binding protein decreased C. albicans-induced IFN-gamma synthesis by 72%. Similarly, neutralization of IL-12 or IL-1beta by either neutralizing antibodies or IL-1 receptor antagonist also reduced (by 65%) IFN-gamma production. Neutralization of TNF by TNF binding proteins resulted in only a 36% reduction of IFN-gamma synthesis. In contrast, production of TNF and IL-8 was largely unaffected by these cytokine inhibitors. Thus, C. albicans stimulates IFN-gamma production in an IL-18-, IL-12-, and IL-1beta-dependent manner, whereas production of TNF and IL-8 is independent of these cytokines. Blocking the biologic activities of IL-18, IL-12, and IL-1beta in patients (e.g., for treatment of autoimmune diseases) may result in increased susceptibility to C. albicans infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado, USA. m.netea@aig.azn.nl
authors.forename: Mihai G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Netea
authors.forename: Rogier J L
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Stuyt
authors.forename: Soo-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jos W M
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Van der Meer
authors.forename: Bart Jan
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kullberg
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dinarello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000276:immunology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D020382:Interleukin-18; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma