Natural oils enhance IL-10 and IFN-γ production by human PBMCs cultured with Malassezia furfur

BACKGROUND: Malassezia furfur is a lipophilic yeast that causes skin disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the level of IL-10, IFN-γ and IL-12P70 in co-incubation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with M. furfur grown in the presence of some different types of natural oils.

METHODS: 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-γ, IL-10, and IL-12P70 levels were measured at different time intervals using ELISA methods.

RESULTS: Generally, IFN-γ and IL-10 levels in the co-incubation 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.

CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that the type of fat used by M. furfur in the culture media can influence the immune response and increasesIFN-γ and IL-10 levels in an early time point of the culture system.