Ironically, the immune system helps a yeast fungus spread in the body. This new finding from researchers at the University of Bern aids in the search for new therapies for septicemia caused by yeast fungi.
These are still difficult to treat and are associated with a high mortality rate, the University of Bern said Thursday. One-third to one-half of patients do not survive such fungal sepsis.
Can lead to blood poisoning
According to the researchers, the yeast fungus Candida albicans lives in about half of the population. But it only becomes a problem when it enters the bloodstream and causes blood poisoning. This can happen, for example, when a disease such as AIDS weakens the immune system, or when a surgical procedure damages the mucosal barrier.
When pathogens invade, the immune system responds with inflammation, the university explains. A protein called interleukin 1 receptor antagonist helps control inflammation.
Delayed proteins promote the spread
As the researchers have now been able to show in a study in the journal Immunity, this protein also promotes the spread of the fungus. Mice genetically bred so that their scavenger cells do not produce anti-inflammatory proteins were able to successfully combat an infection with Candida albicans within a short period of time.
Specifically, the protein interleukin 1 receptor antagonist disrupts the immune system by inhibiting the production and movement of certain white blood cells called neutrophils, the researchers said. These neutrophils are important because they fight pathogens. Because the protein inhibits the neutrophils, the fungi can spread.
Source: Krone
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