Background: Dendritic cells (DCs) are able to initiate and regulate the immune response to fungal infections. β-glucan stimulates the immune system, modulating cellular and humoral immunity. It has a beneficial effect in fighting fungal infections.
Objectives: We investigated the in vitro effect of C.albicans and A.fumigatus infection on human DCs. The cytokine levels were determined by ELISA.
Material and methods: Human PBMCs isolation was performed by Ficoll-hypaque density gradient centrifugation method. DCs maturation was analysed by using flow cytometry. The cytokine levels were determined by ELISA.
Results: DCs stimulated by C. albicans and A. fumigatus induced DC maturation by increasing CD80 and CD86 co-stimulatory molecules. DCs stimulated by fungi produced IL-8 and IL-12p70. Whereas IL-10 production from the stimulated DCs did not differ from uninfected DCs. Also, the addition of β-glucan to the DCs stimulated by fungi promoted the activation and maturation of DCs.
Conclusions: Our results suggest that DCs are capable of initiating an innate and adaptive immune response against fungal infections. In addition, β-glucan can be used as a novel stimulator to DC-based vaccination against fungal infections.