Regulation of Candida albicans Morphogenesis by Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha and Potential for Treatment of Oral Candidiasis

Abstract

Background: Endogenous tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) has a beneficial effect as an activation mediator of host defense against infection by the fungus Candida albicans (C. albicans). However, it is unclear whether exogenous TNF-α has a beneficial or detrimental effect against Candida. Materials and Methods: The direct effect of TNF-α on CO₂-induced morphological transformation of C. albicans blastoconidia was examined in vitro and the effect of TNF-α was determined in a mouse model of oral candidiasis. Results: TNF-α suppressed hyphal formation from C. albicans blastoconidia directly and dose-dependently, whereas it did not affect the fungal budding rate at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 10 μg/ml. In vivo, the oral administration of TNF-α significantly reduced the C. albicans CFU in tongue tissues of treated mice. Histopathologically, there was a decrease in the number and size of C. albicans fungi in the tongue tissues. Conclusion: Since orally administered TNF-α suppressed fungal burden in the tongue tissue without significant detrimental effects, TNF-α has potential as a therapeutic agent against Candida.