IL-23 enhances the inflammatory cell response in Cryptococcus neoformans infection and induces a cytokine pattern distinct from IL-12

IL-23, a heterodimeric cytokine composed of the p40 subunit of IL-12 and a novel p19 subunit, has been shown to be a key player in models of autoimmune chronic inflammation. To investigate the role of IL-23 in host resistance during chronic fungal infection, wild-type, IL-12- (IL-12p35(-/-)), IL-23- (IL-23p19(-/-)), and IL-12/IL-23- (p40-deficient) deficient mice on a C57BL/6 background were infected with Cryptococcus neoformans. Following infection, p40-deficient mice demonstrated higher mortality than IL12p35(-/-) mice. Reconstitution of p40-deficient mice with rIL-23 prolonged their survival to levels similar to IL-12p35(-/-) mice. IL-23p19(-/-) mice showed a moderately reduced survival time and delayed fungal clearance in the liver. Although IFN-gamma production was similar in wild-type and IL-23p19(-/-) mice, production of IL-17 was strongly impaired in the latter. IL-23p19(-/-) mice produced fewer hepatic granulomata relative to organ burden and showed defective recruitment of mononuclear cells to the brain. Moreover, activation of microglia cells and expression of IL-1 beta, IL-6, and MCP-1 in the brain was impaired. These results show that IL-23 complements the more dominant role of IL-12 in protection against a chronic fungal infection by an enhanced inflammatory cell response and distinct cytokine regulation.