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

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)-alpha 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 less than 0.01). The level of IL-1 beta of the A-CSID group was significantly higher than that of the non-atopic corticosteroid-independent group (p less than 0.05), but not significantly different from the controls. In HR of the A-CSID group, the production of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta was augmented and interferon-gamma 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.