title: Recombinant interleukin-18 protects against disseminated Candida albicans infection in mice.
abstract: Endogenous interleukin (IL)-18 is necessary for host defense against candidiasis. Prophylactic treatment of Candida albicans-infected mice with recombinant murine (r) IL-18 decreased mortality, which was accompanied by a decreased outgrowth of yeasts in the kidneys 1 day after infection. Therapeutic administration of rIL-18 also resulted in decreased outgrowth of C. albicans in the kidneys and increased levels of interferon- gamma, both in the circulation and after in vitro stimulation of splenocytes with C. albicans. Histopathologic analysis of the kidneys showed increased inflammation and decreased growth of C. albicans in rIL-18-treated mice. In conclusion, rIL-18 improves outcome of disseminated candidiasis in mice and may prove useful as adjuvant immunotherapy of fungal infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Medical Center St. Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rogier J L
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Stuyt
authors.forename: Mihai G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Netea
authors.forename: Johan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: van Krieken
authors.forename: Jos W M
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: van der Meer
authors.forename: Bart Jan
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kullberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000254:growth & development*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma