Novel anti-inflammatory agents could control hyper-inflammatory responses to fungal infection

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"The most frequent fungal threat to humans, Candida albicans, is a common cause oral and genital infection. The fungal infections are often worsened by overwhelming inflammatory responses in the body and cause high mortality among risk groups. 

Umeå University doctoral student Ava Hosseinzadeh has discovered two novel anti-inflammatory agents, an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory molecule, which could be used to control the hyper-inflammatory responses to the fungal infection.

One of the most common fungi and a growing health concern for people with compromised immune systems, Candida albicans, has the ability to grow as either a circular or a filamentous form. The latter is more virulent and invasive. In the body, neutrophils, which are an abundant cell type among white blood cells, have evolved several strategies to combat these two different forms of the fungi. 

Neutrophils track and uptake the fungi or secrete antimicrobials which kills them. In addition, neutrophils can also respond by releasing web-like structures composed of DNA backbone and decorated with antimicrobial proteins. The so-called neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) has the ability to trap and kill fungi. 

However, uncontrolled NET release contributes to tissue damage and is also associated with inflammatory diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and atherosclerosis.."

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