Natural oils enhance IL-10 and IFN-alpha production by human PBMCs cultured with malassezia furfur

ABSTRACT

Malassezia furfur is alipophilic yeast that causes skin disease. To evaluate the level of IL-10, IFN-alpha and IL-12P70 in co-incubation of M. furfur grown on different forms of natural oils with PBMCs of healthy individuals. PBMCs were obtained from blood samples of normal volunteers. M. furfur was cultured in different culture media containing almond oil, fish oil, walnut oil, full-fat milk, and a fat-free medium; and the yeasts grown were harvested and used for co-incubation with PBMCs in vitro. The IFN-alpha, IL-10, and IL-12P70 levels were measured at different time intervals using ELISA methods. Generally, IFN-alpha and IL-10 levels in the coincubation of yeasts with walnut oil group [WOG] and fish oil group [FOG] were higher than those in the almond oil group [AOG] and full-fat milk group [FFMG]. Although the IL-12P70 was higher in groups such as AOG, FOG, and WOG; the increase was not statistically significant. The results demonstrated that the type of fat used by M. furfur in the culture media can influence the immune response and increases IFN-alpha and IL-10 levels in an early time point of the culture system