Natural Oils Enhance IL-10 and IFN-γ Production by Human PBMCs Cultured with Malassezia furfur

Malassezia furfur is a lipophilic yeast that causes skin disease. 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. PBMCs were obtained from blood samples of normal volunteers. M. furfur was cultured in different culture media containing almond oil, fish oil, walnut oil, fullfat milk, and a fat-free medium; and the yeasts grown were harvested and used for coincubation with PBMCs in vitro. The IFN-γ, IL-10, and IL-12P70 levels were measured at different time intervals using ELISA methods. 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. The results demonstrated that the type of fat used by M. furfur in the culture media can influence the immune response and increases IFN-γ and IL-10 levels in an early time point of the culture system.