title: Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis development is aggravated by Candida albicans infection.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory/autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) mainly mediated by myelin specific T cells. It is widely believed that environmental factors, including fungal infections, contribute to disease induction or evolution. Even though Candida infection among MS patients has been described, the participation of this fungus in this pathology is not clear. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of a Candida albicans infection on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) that is a widely accepted model to study MS. Female C57BL/6 mice were infected with C. albicans and 3 days later, animals were submitted to EAE induction by immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. Previous infection increased the clinical score and also the body weight loss. EAE aggravation was associated with expansion of peripheral CD4(+) T cells and production of high levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ IL-6, and IL-17 by spleen and CNS cells. In addition to yeast and hyphae, fungus specific T cells were found in the CNS. These findings suggest that C. albicans infection before EAE induction aggravates EAE, and possibly MS, mainly by CNS dissemination and local induction of encephalitogenic cytokines. Peripheral production of encephalitogenic cytokines could also contribute to disease aggravation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University (UNESP), 18618-000 Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thais F C
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Fraga-Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University (UNESP), 18618-000 Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiza A N
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Mimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, School of Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), 17033-360 Bauru, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University (UNESP), 18618-000 Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiuso-Minicucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University (UNESP), 18618-000 Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thais G D
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: França
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University (UNESP), 18618-000 Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sofia F G
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Zorzella-Pezavento
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, School of Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), 17033-360 Bauru, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Venturini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, School of Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), 17033-360 Bauru, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria S P
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Arruda
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University (UNESP), 18618-000 Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandrina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sartori
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein / Q000494:pharmacology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C098680:Il17a protein, mouse; D020381:Interleukin-17; D015850:Interleukin-6; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma