Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis constitutes a heterogeneous group of syndromes, characterized by non-invasive
infection of the skin, nails and mucosal membranes by the fungus Candida spp. Although symptoms are heterogeneous, in all cases there is a reduction in protective
cytokines, favouring the development of disease. The normal role of
cytokines in skin lesions is not well understood. The present study aimed to investigate the progression of disease, understand specific cellular and molecular components involved in immunity to Candida albicans and determine the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory
cytokines over the course of cutaneous
infection in immunocompetent mice. BALB/c mice (five per group) were inoculated with 5 × 10(6)C. albicans pseudohyphae in the deep dermis of the paw and analysed over 1-14 days post-
infection. The contralateral paws were used for negative controls. Haematoxylin and
eosin staining of skin sections during C. albicans
infection was performed to analyse structural modifications to the epidermis such as
hyperplasia, and infiltration of neutrophils and fibroblasts in the dermis. The
cytokine populations were determined by capture ELISA using popliteal lymph node tissue. Pro-inflammatory
cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-12, IFN-γ and IL-17) were detected at significant levels during the initial phase of cutaneous
infection and correlated with the rapid elimination of C. albicans. Anti-inflammatory
cytokines (
IL-13, IL-4, IL-10 and
transforming growth factor-β) were detected on day 4 post-
infection, and prevented exacerbation of
inflammation and participated in healing of lesions. Thus, a balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory
cytokines was fundamental for the resolution of
infection. Importantly, these findings broaden our understanding of the immune mechanisms involved in chronic
cutaneous candidiasis.