Candida albicans Modulates Murine and Human Beta Defensin-1 during Vaginitis

MIRÓ MS; CAEIRO JP; RODRIGUEZ EMILSE; VARGAS L; ICELY PA; CASTILLO GDV; AZCURRA AI; ABIEGA C; RIERA FO; SOTOMAYOR CE

Journal of Fungi

MDPI

Lugar: Basel; Año: 2021 vol. 8 p. 1 - 18

Abstract: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) are twoforms of a disease caused by Candida spp. -defensin (BD) is one of the most important familiesof antimicrobial peptides in the female genital tract and includes molecules that exert essentiallocal functions as antimicrobial and PMN chemoattractant peptides. However, the information ontheir role during murine and human VVC and RVVC is limited. Thus, we analyzed the behaviorand contribution of BD1 to the local response in a VVC mice model and the local cytokine profileand human BD1 and BD3 expression in cervicovaginal lavage from patients with VVC and RVVC.We demonstrated that, in patients with RVVC BD1, mRNA and protein expression were severelydiminished and that the aspartate proteinase and lipase secreted by C. albicans are involved in thatdecrease. This study provides novel information about the pathogenesis of VVC and describes ahighly efficient C. albicans escape strategy for perpetuating the infection; these results may contributeto the development of new or combined treatment approaches.