Host resistance against Candida alibcans infection in mice with adjuvant induced arthritis

In mice and humans two distinct CD4+ helper T cells, known as Th1 and Th2 are identified. They are characterized by the different cytokine milleau they induce. The balance between Th1 and Th2 responses is thought to be decisive for the initiation and course of some autoimmune disorders, as well as for the outcome of infectious processes. In the present study the development of Candida alibcans infection in mice with adjuvant-induced arthritis was investigated. An impaired host resistance against C. alibcans in arthritic mice was registered when the inoculation was done during the early and the established phases of arthritis. In contrast, the slight elevation of the number of survivors was detected when the infection was induced at the peak of inflammation. These data correlated with the changes of serum TNF-alpha level and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) to C. alibcans.