POTENTIAL APPLICATION OF HUMAN INTERFERON-ALPHA IN MICROBIAL INFECTIONS OF THE ORAL CAVITY

We have been evaluating the potential use of interferon-alpha (IFN-alp ha) against fungal infections of the oral cavity, IFN-alpha has been r eported to enhance the antifungal activity of neutrophils, This cytoki ne is also known to synergize with interleukin-1 in enhancing a number of immunomodulatory responses, To study cytokine involvement in oral defense mechanisms against microbial infection, we first demonstrated the presence of antimicrobial interleukins (IL)-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, an d IL-8 in the saliva, which can all augment the microbicidal activity of neutrophils, and the presence of epithelial cells and neutrophils i n oral lavage fluid from healthy volunteers. Immunostaining for cytoki nes produced by these cells showed that the candidate producers of bot h IL-1 alpha and IL-8 are epithelial cells, but those of IL-1 beta rem ained inconclusive, We next found that IFN-alpha enhanced IL-1 alpha-a ugmented neutrophil-mediated anticandidal action while marginally enha ncing IL-8- and IL-1 beta-mediated reactions. These results suggest th at IFN-alpha is a potential agent for treating oral mycosis by coopera ting with endogenous cytokine(s) in the saliva, in addition to its int rinsic antiviral action.