Korean J Med Mycol.  2001 Jun;6(2):64-69.

Enhancement of Human Monocyte Activities against Aspergillus fumigatus by Interleukin-15

• Cho JH
• Chang KH
• Kim HY
• Song YG
• Kim CO
• Park YS
• Hong SK
• Huh A
• Yeon JS
• Kim JM

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite recent advances in antifungal chemotherapy, invasive aspergillosis remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a cytokine that is known to enhance antifungal activities of monocytes against Candida albicans.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to investigate the potentials of IL-15 to enhance antifungal activities of monocytes against Aspergillus fumigatus.
METHODS
Peripheral blood monocytes from healthy adults were incubated with 0, 1, 10, 100 ng/ml of IL-15 for 1, 2, and 4 days. Then, the ability of IL-15 to elicit the production of superoxide anion, the damage of hyphae by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and the killing ability of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia was investigated.
RESULTS
Incubation of peripheral blood monocytes with 100 ng/ml of IL-15 enhanced hyphal damage after 2 days (p<0.05), conidicidal activity from the first day (p<0.05), and increased the production of superoxide anion (O2- ) in response to phorbol myristate acetate.
CONCLUSION
Our results indicate that IL-15 augments the microbicidal activity of human monocytes against Aspergillus fumigatus.

Keyword

IL-15; Aspergillus fumigatus; Monocyte

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aspergillosis
Aspergillus fumigatus*
Aspergillus*
Candida albicans
Drug Therapy
Homicide
Humans*
Hyphae
Immunocompromised Host
Interleukin-15*
Monocytes*
Mortality
Spores, Fungal
Superoxides
Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate
Interleukin-15
Superoxides
Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate