Protective tolerance to fungi: the role of IL-10 and tryptophan catabolism.
The pro-inflammatory-anti-inflammatory signaling balance is required for successful host-fungus interactions. The occurrence and interference of regulatory T (T-reg) cells in fungal infections offers a valuable framework for events that occur at the host-fungus interface. Control of both the class and magnitude of the immune response might confer an evolutionary advantage whereby the host effectively fights infection but limits collateral immunopathology. Alternatively, fungus-induced immunosuppression could be a powerful immunoevasion strategy for the invading pathogen. Discovery of T-reg cells as a source of IL-10 might contribute to a better understanding of the opposing functions and variable levels of production of this prototypic immunoregulatory cytokine in fungal infections and inflammatory diseases. T-reg cells, however, might also represent an additional mechanistic level at which host responses are subverted by fungi.
Romani
Luigina
L
Microbiology Section, Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via del Giochetto, 06126 Perugia, Italy. lromani@unipg.it
Puccetti
Paolo
P
D005658:Fungi / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000276:immunology*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D014364:Tryptophan