ovalbumin and Candidiasis

The gels of Aloe species contain immunomodulatory components such as aloctin A and acemannan. Most studies on these gels were performed in in vitro cell culture systems. Although several studies examined their immunomodulatory activity in vivo, the route of administration was intraperitoneal or intramuscular. Here, we evaluated the in vivo immunomodulatory activity of processed Aloe vera gel (PAG) in mice. Oral administration of PAG significantly reduced the growth of C. albicans in the spleen and kidney following intravenous injection of C. albicans in normal mice. PAG administration also reduced the growth of C. albicans in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. PAG administration did not increase ovalbumin (OVA)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) generation in normal mice, but did increase it in high-fat-diet induced diabetic mice. These findings provide the first clear evidence for the immunomodulatory activity of orally administered Aloe vera gel.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Aloe; Animals; Candida albicans; Candidiasis; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Gels; Immunologic Factors; Kidney; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Inbred ICR; Ovalbumin; Plant Preparations; Spleen; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic; Time Factors

Controversy still exists as to whether gastrointestinal colonisation by Candida albicans contributes to aggravation of atopic dermatitis. We hypothesised that Candida colonisation promotes food allergy, which is known to contribute to a pathogenic response in atopic dermatitis. We tested this using a recently established murine Candida colonisation model.. Candida colonisation in the gastrointestinal tract was established by intragastric inoculation with C albicans in mice fed a synthetic diet. To investigate sensitisation against food antigen, mice were intragastrically administered with ovalbumin every other day for nine weeks, and antiovalbumin antibody titres were measured weekly. To examine gastrointestinal permeation of food antigen, plasma concentrations of ovalbumin were measured following intragastric administration of ovalbumin.. Ovalbumin specific IgG and IgE titres were higher in BALB/c mice with Candida colonisation than in normal mice. Gastrointestinal permeation of ovalbumin was enhanced by colonisation in BALB/c mice. Histological examination showed that colonisation promoted infiltration and degranulation of mast cells. Candida colonisation did not enhance ovalbumin permeation in mast cell deficient W/Wv mice but did in congenic littermate control +/+ mice. Reconstitution of mast cells in W/Wv mice by transplantation of bone marrow derived mast cells restored the ability to increase ovalbumin permeation in response to Candida colonisation.. These results suggest that gastrointestinal Candida colonisation promotes sensitisation against food antigens, at least partly due to mast cell mediated hyperpermeability in the gastrointestinal mucosa of mice.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies; Candida albicans; Candidiasis; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Food Hypersensitivity; Gastric Mucosa; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulin G; Intestinal Absorption; Intestinal Mucosa; Mast Cells; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Mutant Strains; Ovalbumin; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms

In the present study, we report the potential of an immunomodulator tuftsin in increasing the efficacy of liposomised Amphotericin B (Amp B) against drug sensitive as well as drug resistant experimental murine candidiasis. The Amp B containing liposomes demonstrated strong potential of eliminating systemic candidiasis (70% survival) in animals infected with Amp B sensitive strain of Candida albicans (C. albicans). The same liposomal formulation was found to be ineffective in treatment of animals infected with drug resistant C. albicans. However, the co-administration of liposomal formulation of Amp B along with an immunomodulator tuftsin, was found to be competent enough in curing even the drug resistant candidiasis. In contrast, none of the animals survived in the control groups, which were treated with free or liposomised Amp B (without tuftsin). Further, the effect of liposomised tuftsin, on T-cell proliferation as well as antibody production reveals that tuftsin elicits strong immunopotentiating effects as well. The pretreatment with liposomised tuftsin prior to challenging the animals with drug resistant C. albicans infection has also been effective and shows an extra edge in prophylactic perspectives.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Amphotericin B; Animals; Antifungal Agents; Antigens; Candida albicans; Candidiasis; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Resistance, Fungal; Drug Synergism; Female; Immunoglobulin G; Kidney; Liposomes; Liver; Lung; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Ovalbumin; Spleen; T-Lymphocytes; Tuftsin