Immunity in dermatophyte infection

Abstract

Immune responses to dermatophyte infection include both innate and adaptive immune response,and the adaptive immune response involves both humoral and cellular immune response.Both keratinocytes,which express a variety of pattern recognition receptors,and neutrophils,which exert antifungal activity inside and outside cells via phagocytosis and oxidization products (such as superoxide anion) in respiration burst,are involved in the innate immune response.The predominance of cellular or humoral immune response determines the clinical manifestations and outcomes of dermatophyte infection,which may spontaneously heal or become chronic.The currently accepted view is that cell-mediated immune response is responsible for the control of dermatophytosis.Moreover,Trichophyton may serve as an antigen with distinct immune capabilities to induce immediate hypersensitivity (IH) or delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) in different individuals. Key words: Dermatomycoses; Immunity ; Infection