Immune neuroendocrine interactions during a fungal infection in immunocompetent or immunosuppressed hosts.

RODRIGUEZ GALÁN MC; SOTOMAYOR CE; CANO R; PORPORATTO C; RENNA MS; PARALE MG; CEJAS H; CORREA SG

KARGER

Año: 2010 vol. 17 p. 181 - 181

The yeast Candida albicans belongs to the microflora of healthy individuals, although it can infect a variety of tissues ensuing changes in the host’s immune status. To evaluate the effect of  neuroendocrine input on the early immune response during the fungal infection, we use a 3-day paradigm of chronic varied stress in Wistar rats infected with C. albicans . We find that stress mediators contribute to the spread of the fungus and downregulate critical functions of phagocyticcells at the infection site. Phenotypic and functional alterations of effector cells account for the decreased resistance to candidiasis and condition the development of the adaptive response. Stressed hosts exhibit a higher fungal burden in kidneys and livers associated with hyphal forms.The hepatic inflammatory reaction is compromised with severe steatosis, increment of functional enzymes, marked lipid peroxidation and hepatocyte apoptosis. Moreover, infection-related sick