Interleukin-17 in Antifungal Immunity.

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Microbiology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a key cytokine implicated in autoinflammatory diseases like psoriasis.
• IL-17 plays a dual role, contributing to disease pathogenesis and essential host defense.
• IL-17 is vital for controlling microbial colonization, particularly against fungal pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the protective and pathogenic roles of IL-17 in host defense against fungal infections.
• To investigate the emerging evidence of IL-17's involvement in immunity against non-albicans fungi.
• To understand how IL-17 responses to commensal fungi can paradoxically promote inflammation.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on IL-17 biology and its role in host-pathogen interactions.
• Analysis of genetic studies highlighting IL-17 pathway defects in fungal immunity.
• Examination of recent findings on IL-17's impact on commensal fungal colonization and associated inflammation.

Main Results:

• IL-17 is essential for defense against Candida albicans and other fungi.
• IL-17 pathway defects impair immunity against opportunistic fungal infections.
• Commensal fungi, under certain conditions, can trigger detrimental IL-17-mediated inflammation.

Conclusions:

• IL-17 is critical for protective immunity against a range of fungal species.
• Dysregulated IL-17 responses to commensal fungi can lead to inflammatory conditions.
• Fungi represent a novel class of disease-promoting factors beyond their role as direct pathogens.