In Vivo Activity Of Interferon-γ In Combination With Amphotericin B In The Treatment Of Experimental Cryptococcosis

The effect of recombinant interferon-ã (rIFN-ã) on Cryptococcus neoformans infection was investigated in vivo. BALB/c mice were injected intravenously with 2 'd7 106 C. neoformans. rIFN-ã alone (10 µg intraperitoneally 18 h before, at, and 24 h after infection) significantly increased the survival and decreased the colony-forming unit counts in the lungs compared with untreated mice. rIFN-ã association significantly enhanced the effect of a single dose of amphotericin B (0.25 mg/kg 24 h after infection) to prolong mouse survival and to reduce colony counts in the brain. Tumor necrosis factor-a levels, measured in spleen 3, 6, and 24 h after infection, were not increased by rIFN-ã. These results suggest that exogenous rIFN-ã might improve the effect of antifungal therapy during cryptococcosis.