IL-1 family signalling drives mucosal defence against systemic Candida albicans infection.
- Open access
IL-1 family signalling is essential for mucosal defense against systemic Candida albicans, preventing dissemination and mortality in neutropenic conditions.
- Why it matters: Understanding how the host controls mucosal infections by C. albicans is crucial for developing treatments to prevent severe systemic disease and improve patient outcomes, especially in immunocompromised individuals.
- What they did: The study examined the role of IL-1 family members in mucosal immunity by analyzing responses to C. albicans infection, revealing that their signalling controls antimicrobial peptides, IL-17, and neutrophil responses, with experiments involving loss of signalling.
- The result: Loss of IL-1 family signalling caused severe mucosal infection and, under neutropenic conditions, led to systemic dissemination and death, highlighting the pathway's critical role in preventing life-threatening systemic candidiasis.