Cytokines profile in immunocompetent mice during Trichosporon asahii infection

Abstract Trichosporon asahii is an opportunistic yeastlike fungus commonly associated with systemic infections in immunocompromised patients. Neutropenia is recognized as the main risk factor in infections by T. asahii; however, little is known about the cytokine response during trichosporonosis. Here, we evaluated systemic and local cytokine production and histological damage in immunocompetent mice during systemic infection with T. asahii. We found a significant increased presence of G-CSF, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-6 in sera samples. High levels of G-CSF were found in organs (kidney, liver and spleen); meanwhile IL-10, IL-17A, IL-2, IL-4 and TNF-α were found in low levels. Neutrophils and fungal structures were found in early stage in analyzed organs. Our results demonstrated that T. asahii induces a systemic inflammatory response and G-CSF environment in infected organs in immunocompetent mice and neutrophil recruitment in analyzed tissue suggests the importance of these cells for fungal control.