The role of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and platelet-activating factor (PAF) interaction on murine candidosis.
Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is related to some other factors in addition to being the essential cytokine of the sepsis which results from Candida infections. In our study, we investigated serum TNF-alpha levels, measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and platelet-activating factor (PAF)-like activity, measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) of the mice infected with Candida species. The PAF antagonist, ginkgolide BN 52021 was used to evaluate the possible interaction between TNF-alpha and PAF. The average TNF-alpha levels were found to be 396, 489, 699 and 803 pg ml(-1) on the 4th, 5th, 6th and 19th days of Candida albicans infection, respectively (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the serum TNF-alpha levels of the groups infected with other Candida species, such as C. kefyr, C. krusei and C. tropicalis (P>0.05). Serum TNF-alpha levels were found to be more significantly different in mice with C. albicans infection that were injected with PAF antagonists on the 6th day (23 pg ml(-1)). It was therefore thought that PAF antagonists have an inhibitory effect on TNF-alpha production. No significant difference was found between PAF levels in the three groups: healthy control mice, C. albicans-infected mice and C. albicans-infected mice given PAF antagonists (466 milli-absorbance unit (mAU), 475 mAU and 329 mAU, respectively). It was noticed that the positive interaction between PAF and TNF-alpha was not important after the first 4 days of the infection had passed.
Kalkanci
A
A
Department of Microbiology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Kuştimur
S
S
Timlioğlu
O
O
Uluoğlu
C
C
D000818:Animals; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha