Interleukin-4 suppresses antifungal activity of human mononuclear phagocytes against Candida albicans in association with decreased uptake of blastoconidia.

Pathogenesis of invasive candidiasis may involve regulatory activities of Th2 immunity on phagocytic host defenses. The effects of interleukin (IL)-4 on antifungal capacity of human mononuclear phagocytes against Candida albicans were studied. Incubation of adherent mononuclear leukocytes from healthy donors with IL-4 (1-5 ng ml(-1)) at 37 degrees C for 2-4 days suppressed uptake of C.

IL-10 exerts suppressive and enhancing effects on antifungal activity of mononuclear phagocytes against Aspergillus fumigatus.

Invasive aspergillosis has emerged as a frequent and serious infection in immunocompromised patients. We studied the effects of human IL-10 on antifungal activity of monocytes (MNCs) from healthy adults against Aspergillus fumigatus after incubation with IL-10 at 37 degrees C for 2 to 4 days. IL-10 (2-20 ng/ml)-pretreated MNCs exhibited approximately 40% suppression of superoxide anion (02-) production in response to PMA and FMLP (p < or = 0.

Plasma exchange (PE) treatment in drug-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) or Lyell's syndrome is a rare fulminating skin disease notorious for its rapidly progressive course and high mortality rate. TEN is characterized by the sudden onset of epithelial necrosis of skin with frequently associated involvement of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tract and bronchopulmonary linings. We describe the clinical course of five patients with severe drug-induced TEN, treated with PE.