• **Production of Cytokines**

Cytokines are a group of low molecular weight proteins that act as a mediator between cells and are produced by white blood cells and other non-immune cells in response to stimuli [19].

Monocytes and their derivative cells can produce chemokines, pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory and pleiotropic cytokines [20, 21]. These cytokines and chemokine secretion is important for the development of both the innate and adaptive immune response to fungal pathogens and can influence the activation and recruitment of other immune cells and the polarization of the adaptive immune response [17]. Under normal physiological condition, cytokines are not detectable or are present at low levels in body fluids or tissues because they are only produced when required in immune responses [19]. Therefore, an elevated levels or unregulated production of cytokines may be associated with inflammation or disease pathogenesis [22].
