Reaction of mononuclear cells from patients with bronchial asthma to Candida albicans

Abstract

This study was undertaken to investigate cytokine production of mononuclear cells (MNCs) from patients with bronchial asthma stimulated by antigens of Candida albicans in vitro. The reaction of MNCs from corticosteroid-dependent patients was restricted to a low level. The level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α released into the culture fluid was significantly higher in the high responders (HR) of the atopic corticosteroid-independent (A-CSID) group than those of other asthmatic and control groups (p _ 0.01). The level of IL-1β of the A-CSID group was significantly higher than that of the non-atopic corticosteroid-independent group (p _ 0.05), but not significantly different from the controls. In HR of the A-CSID group, the production of TNF-α and IL-1β was augmented and interferon-γ production was also increased in these patients. These results suggest that Candida albicans can contribute to the augmentation of cytokine production in bronchial asthma, especially in some of atopic type.