Different tumor necrosis factor α antagonists have different effects on host susceptibility to disseminated and

Hyunsook Park1, Norma V Solis2, James S Louie3

  • 1California State University Los Angeles; Los Angeles, CA USA.

Virulence
|July 10, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) antagonists, XT22 and p75-Fc, worsened fungal infections in mice. These TNF-α inhibitors increased susceptibility to candidiasis, impacting survival and fungal burden.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) is crucial for host defense against intracellular pathogens.
  • TNF-α plays a significant role in regulating immune responses to fungal infections.
  • Understanding TNF-α's role is vital for developing effective antifungal therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of TNF-α antagonists on experimental fungal infections in mice.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of a monoclonal antibody (XT22) and a soluble receptor fusion protein (p75-Fc) against Candida albicans.
  • To elucidate the differential effects of these antagonists on systemic and mucosal candidiasis.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized mouse models for hematogenously disseminated candidiasis (HDC) and oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC).
  • Administered rat anti-mouse TNF-α monoclonal antibody (XT22) and soluble mouse 75 kDa TNF-α receptor fused to Fc (p75-Fc).
  • Assessed outcomes including survival rates, kidney and oral fungal burden, and leukocyte recruitment.

Main Results:

  • Both XT22 and p75-Fc significantly reduced survival and increased kidney fungal burden in HDC.
  • Leukocyte recruitment was diminished in the kidneys during HDC following antagonist treatment.
  • XT22, but not p75-Fc, significantly increased oral fungal burden and reduced leukocyte recruitment in OPC.

Conclusions:

  • TNF-α antagonists (XT22 and p75-Fc) exacerbate susceptibility to systemic candidiasis (HDC) in mice.
  • The effects of TNF-α antagonism differ between systemic and mucosal candidiasis.
  • XT22 demonstrates distinct inhibitory mechanisms impacting oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) compared to p75-Fc.