@article {OHTA25, author = {HITOMI OHTA and TADAO TANIMOTO and MADOKA TANIAI and MUTSUKO TANIGUCHI and TOSHIO ARIYASU and SHIGEYUKI ARAI and TSUNETAKA OHTA and SHIGEHARU FUKUDA}, title = {Regulation of Candida albicans Morphogenesis by Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha and Potential for Treatment of Oral Candidiasis}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {25--32}, year = {2007}, publisher = {International Institute of Anticancer Research}, 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. Copyright {\textcopyright} 2007 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved}, issn = {0258-851X}, URL = {https://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/21/1/25}, eprint = {https://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/21/1/25.full.pdf}, journal = {In Vivo} }