Efficacy of interleukin-1 beta against systemic Candida albicans infections in normal and immunosuppressed mice.

Prophylactic treatments with either recombinant human interleukin-1 beta (rHuIL-1 beta) or a muramyl dipeptide analog ([Abu1]MDP) enhanced the resistance of mice to systemic infection with Candida albicans. The optimum treatment regimen in both normal and cyclophosphamide-treated mice was intraperitoneal administration of 100 ng of rHuIL-1 beta or 1.6 mg of [Abu1]MDP per mouse once daily for 3 consecutive days before infection. Neither rHuIL-1 beta nor [Abu1]MDP was efficacious when started after the infection or when given before cyclophosphamide to mice infected subsequently. Continuing to treat after the infection with either drug neither enhanced nor antagonized the efficacy of prophylactic treatments.