Immune response of Interleukin-10 in rats experimentally infected with Candida albicans

Background. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a key anti-inflammatory cytokine involved in maintaining immunological homeostasis by limiting excessive inflammatory responses, which, if uncontrolled, may lead to tissue damage and adverse outcomes during infection. Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate time-dependent and sex-related changes in serum interleukin-10 levels in rats experimentally infected with Candida albicans. Material and method. A total of 100 rats were included, comprising 50 Candida albicans-infected animals and 50 controls, with equal numbers of males and females in each group. To facilitate fungal infection, rats in the experimental group received cyclosporine A (10 mg/kg) three days prior to inoculation (one does daily), whereas the control group received distilled water instead of C. albicans suspension. The experimental group was further subdivided into five subgroups. Animals in each subgroup were anesthetized, and blood samples were collected on days 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 after treatment initiation to determine serum IL-10 levels. Control animals were similarly subdivided and evaluated using the same sampling schedule. Results. The present study demonstrated a significant increase (p < 0.05) in IL-10 concentration in both male and female rats infected with C. albicans compared to the control group of male and female rats. The study demonstrated a significant increase in IL-10 concentration in C. albicans infected rats of both sexes, with a p-value <0.05, as the duration of the experiment increased. In contrast, no significant changes were observed in the control group over the same time period. Conclusion. The research highlights the essential function of IL-10 in the immune response to Candida albicans infections, observing that the absence of notable differences between male and female rats suggests that additional factors affect IL-10 regulation. The necessity for additional research on the interactions between sex hormones and cytokines is underscored, offering insights into the sex- and time-dependent regulation of IL-10 during infections, while also highlighting the need for clarification of observed discrepancies and their underlying mechanisms.