Mannoproteins from Candida albicans elicit a Th-type-1 cytokine profile in human Candida specific long-term T cell cultures.

Since T lymphocytes are active producers of regulatory cytokines, long-term T cell cultures (LTTC) specific for a major mannoproteic antigen (MP) of Candida albicans from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy donors were generated and their cytokine profile studied. LTTC consisted of an expanded CD3CD4 T-helper (Th) populations, with a high proportion of CD45R0 T memory cells. Stimulation of LTTC by MP induced a Th-1 type cytokine profile, as indicated by the presence of IFN-gamma and the absence of IL-5 (both as mRNA and protein) in cell cultures and supernatants. These results suggest a predominant Th1 response elicited by C. albicans mannoprotein antigen in human PBMC.