TY - JOUR

T1 - Cell mediated immune response dominates in experimental mammary gland Candida krusei infection in immunocompetent and immuno - Compromised (nu/nu) mice

AU - Nyaundi, Julia K.

AU - Jensen, Henrick E.

AU - Hau, Jann

PY - 2002

Y1 - 2002

N2 - Experimental local mammary gland Candida krusei infection in immuno-competent and in congenic athymic nude BALB/c mice over a period of 21 days demonstrated that the immunocompetent mice readily cleared the infection whereas the infection persisted in the athymic mice. The fungal burden, however, was similar in the nude mice and in the immuno-competent mice until day 18 after infection. The ratio of interferon-γ/interleukin-4 (IFN-γ/IL-4) concentrations in supernatants from ConA stimulated splenocytes of the infected mice indicated a predominant Th1 response to the C. krusei infection. Stimulated splenocytes of the infected immuno-competent mice synthesised significantly higher concentrations of the two cytokines than did the splenocytes from the infected nude mice. The present study indicates that local C. krusei infection is associated with a predominant IFN-γ-Th1 response although a gradual activation of the Th2 -arm (IL-4) of the immune system may be indicated late in the course of infection.

AB - Experimental local mammary gland Candida krusei infection in immuno-competent and in congenic athymic nude BALB/c mice over a period of 21 days demonstrated that the immunocompetent mice readily cleared the infection whereas the infection persisted in the athymic mice. The fungal burden, however, was similar in the nude mice and in the immuno-competent mice until day 18 after infection. The ratio of interferon-γ/interleukin-4 (IFN-γ/IL-4) concentrations in supernatants from ConA stimulated splenocytes of the infected mice indicated a predominant Th1 response to the C. krusei infection. Stimulated splenocytes of the infected immuno-competent mice synthesised significantly higher concentrations of the two cytokines than did the splenocytes from the infected nude mice. The present study indicates that local C. krusei infection is associated with a predominant IFN-γ-Th1 response although a gradual activation of the Th2 -arm (IL-4) of the immune system may be indicated late in the course of infection.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036983999&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:0036983999

VL - 29

SP - 195

EP - 201

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Science

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Science

SN - 0901-3393

IS - 4

ER -