C57BL/b mice are highly resistant to infections caused by Candida albicans
and Aspergillus fumigatus. To elucidate the role of IL-10 produced by C57BL
/b mice during these infections, parameters of infection and immunity to it
were evaluated in IL-10-deficient and wild-type mice with disseminated or
gastrointestinal candidiasis or invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Unlike pa
rasitic protozoan infection, C. albicans or A. fumigatus infection did not
induce significant acute toxicity in IL-10-deficient mice, who, instead, sh
owed reduced fungal burden and fungal-associated inflammatory responses. Th
e increased resistance to infections as compared to wild-type mice was asso
ciated with upregulation of innate and acquired antifungal Th1 responses, s
uch as a dramatically higher production of IL-12, nitric oxide (NO) and TNF
-alpha as well as IFN-gamma by CD4(+) T cells. Pharmacological inhibition o
f NO production greatly reduced resistance to gastrointestinal candidiasis,
thus pointing to the importance of IL-10-dependent NO regulation at mucosa
l sites in fungal infections. These results are reminiscent of those obtain
ed in genetically susceptible mice, in which IL-10 administration increased
, and IL-10 neutralization decreased, susceptibility to C. albicans and A.
fumigatus infections. Collectively, these observations indicate that the ab
sence of IL-10 augments innate and acquired antifungal immunity by upregula
ting type 1 cytokine responses. The resulting protective Th1 responses lead
to a prompt reduction of fungal growth, thus preventing tissue destruction
and lethal levels of proinflammatory cytokines. (C) 1999 Editions scientif
iques et medicales Elsevier SAS.