The ability of Candida spp. strains to induce production of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6 by whole blood cells.

The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. kefyr, C. krusei, and C. parapsilosis to induce production of TNF and IL-6 by whole blood cells of healthy subjects. The highest secretion of TNF and IL-6 was obtained with the 10(7) cells mL(-1) and 10(5) mL(-1) heat killed Candida cells, respectively, for all the species of Candida tested. C. albicans was a better stimulator of TNF and C. glabrata was a better stimulator of IL-6 than other Candida spp. C. krusei was the weakest inductor of IL-6 production.