title: IL-17 signaling in host defense against Candida albicans.
abstract: The discovery of the Th17 lineage in 2005 triggered a major change in how immunity to infectious diseases is viewed. Fungal infections, in particular, have long been a relatively understudied area of investigation in terms of the host immune response. Candida albicans is a commensal yeast that colonizes mucosal sites and skin. In healthy individuals, it is non-pathogenic, but in conditions of immune deficiency, this organism can cause a variety of infections associated with considerable morbidity. Candida can also cause disseminated infections that have a high mortality rate and are a major clinical problem in hospital settings. Although immunity to Candida albicans was long considered to be mediated by Th1 cells, new data in both rodent models and in humans have revealed an essential role for the Th17 lineage, and in particular its signature cytokine IL-17.
authors: Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, BST S703, 3500 Terrace St, Pittsburgh, PA 15216, USA. sig65@pitt.edu
authors: Sarah L
authors: SL
authors: Gaffen
authors: Nydiaris
authors: N
authors: Hernández-Santos
authors: Alanna C
authors: AC
authors: Peterson
mesh_terms: D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17; D054411:Receptors, Leptin