Concanavalin-A induces IL-17 production during the course of Candida albicans infection

• Published in: FEMS immunology and medical microbiology Vol. 64; no. 2; pp. 273 - 279
• Main Authors: de Carvalho, Paula Galdino Cardin, Custódio, Luiz Antonio, Conchon-Costa, Ivete, de Jesus Andrade, Célia Guadalupe Tardeli, Quirino, Gustavo Fernando da Silva, de Almeida, Ricardo Sergio Couto, Felipe, Ionice
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2012; Blackwell; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Animals; Antigen processing; Antigens; Ascitic Fluid - cytology; Biological and medical sciences; Candida albicans; Candida albicans - immunology; Candida albicans infection; Candidiasis - drug therapy; Candidiasis - immunology; Candidiasis - metabolism; Concanavalin A - pharmacology; concanavalin‐A; Cytokines - biosynthesis; Cytokines - immunology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gamma -Interferon; Helper cells; Hyphae; Immune response; Immune system; Infection; Information processing; Interferon; Interleukin 1; Interleukin 12; Interleukin 17; Interleukin 6; Interleukin-17 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-17 - immunology; Lethal dose; Lymphocytes T; Macrophages; Macrophages - cytology; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - microbiology; Male; Mice; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Mycology; Phagocytosis - drug effects; Phagocytosis - immunology; Pretreatment; Scanning; Scanning microscopy; TH1 and TH17 immune response; Th1 Cells - immunology; Th1 Cells - metabolism; Th17 Cells - immunology; Th17 Cells - metabolism; Transforming growth factor- beta; Tumor necrosis factor- alpha; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Yeast; Yeasts; γ-Interferon; infection; 1 and T; T; 17 immune response; concanavalin-A; Candida albicans; Candidiasis; Yeast; Immune response; Mycosis; Candida albicans infection; Th1 lymphocyte; Helper cell; Concanavalin A; Fungi; Infection; Immunology; T-Lymphocyte; Fungi Imperfecti
• ISSN: 0928-8244; 1574-695X; 2049-632X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-695X.2011.00904.x

Abstract In a previous study, our group verified that 100% of mice survived to a lethal dose of Candida albicans following pretreatment with concanavalin-A (Con-A) for 3 days. This work proposed to investigate whether treatment could mediate an adaptative immune response involving TH17 cells. A significant increase in IL-17 levels at 6 h postinfection was observed and was maintained up to 18 h in the Con-A group, whereas in control mice, a reduction in this cytokine was verified. In addition, TH17 cells develop in the presence of TGF-β, IL-1 β, and IL-6 that were increased significantly 2 h postinfection in Con-A-treated mice. Macrophages were involved in the process, engulfing greater numbers of yeast cells, and were activated through TNF-α and interferon-γ produced at significant levels at 2 h postinfection. A significant increase in IL-12 levels was also observed at 2 h postinfection. Thus, activated macrophages were probably more capable of killing and processing Candida antigens, signalizing an adaptative immune response. Macrophages from controls did not prevent yeast-to-hyphae transition and were partially destroyed, as shown in scanning microscopy. These results suggest that treatment with Con-A facilitated the triggering of TH17 and TH1 responses via IL-17 and IFN-γ production, leading to the resolution of C. albicans infection.