The role of tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and platelet‐activating factor (PAF) interaction on murine candidosis

Abstract

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is related to some other factors in addition to being the essential cytokine of the sepsis which results from Candida infections. In our study, we investigated serum TNF-alpha levels, measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and platelet-activating factor (PAF)-like activity, measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) of the mice infected with Candida species. The PAF antagonist, ginkgolide BN 52021 was used to evaluate the possible interaction between TNF-alpha and PAF. The average TNF-alpha levels were found to be 396, 489, 699 and 803 pg ml(-1) on the 4th, 5th, 6th and 19th days of Candida albicans infection, respectively (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the serum TNF-alpha levels of the groups infected with other Candida species, such as C. kefyr, C. krusei and C. tropicalis (P>0.05). Serum TNF-alpha levels were found to be more significantly different in mice with C. albicans infection that were injected with PAF antagonists on the 6th day (23 pg ml(-1)). It was therefore thought that PAF antagonists have an inhibitory effect on TNF-alpha production. No significant difference was found between PAF levels in the three groups: healthy control mice, C. albicans-infected mice and C. albicans-infected mice given PAF antagonists (466 milli-absorbance unit (mAU), 475 mAU and 329 mAU, respectively). It was noticed that the positive interaction between PAF and TNF-alpha was not important after the first 4 days of the infection had passed.

Candida albicans and Streptococcus salivarius modulate IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha expression and secretion by engineered human oral mucosa cells

“…With C. albicans , TNF‐α gene activation peaked at 2 and 4 h after contact, followed by a 50% reduction at 8 h, then another peak at 24 h. This biphasic response with C. albicans may be explained by the fact that, at early contact periods, the gene is highly activated and the TNF‐α mRNA has to be translated into protein before a new cycle of gene activation begins. Although there was a significant difference in experimental design, our results are in agreement with those of Kalkanci et al . (2002), who reported increased levels of TNF‐α in mice infected with C. albicans .…”

Clinical Significance and Expression of PAF and TNF-alpha in Seminal Plasma of Leukocytospermic Patients

“…TNF- α also can reduce the amount of nitrate in normal sperm and affects NO synthesis, which is necessary for sperm movement [13]. Studies have reported that PAF and TNF- α can mutually cooperate with each other to promote the progress of inflammatory response [14], such as acute lung injury [15], monilia infection [16], and necrotizing enterocolitis [17]. How is the PAF expression in the condition of reproductive tract infection?…”