Th1 and Th17 immune responses act complementarily to optimally control superficial dermatophytosis

Dermatophytoses are among the most common fungal infections worldwide but little is known about the immune response in them. By comparing Trichophyton benhamiae acute superficial dermatophytosis in WT and Rag2−/− mice, we showed that TCR-mediated immunity is critical for fungal clearance and clinical recovery. In WT mice, CD4+ T-cells isolated from the skin-draining lymph nodes exhibit both Th1 and Th17 differentiation during infection, with regard to produced cytokines or mRNA levels of transcription factors.