title: Anti-ovarian and anti-lymphocyte antibodies in patients with chronic vaginal candidiasis.
abstract: Seventeen of 30 patients with chronic vaginal candidiasis (CVC) of at least 5 years duration had varying degrees of menstrual problems and defective T lymphocyte function; 8 developed amenorrhea. In a group of 40 CVC patients, titers of autoantibodies to ovary, thymocytes, a T-cell line (CCRF-CEM), and a B-cell line (RN114) were significantly higher than those in 45 normal females (69 +/- 3 vs. 5 +/- 2, 70 +/- 27 vs. 4 +/- 2, l7 +/- 6, vs. 4 +/ 2, and 73 +/- 24 vs. 8 +/- 5, respectively, mean +/- S.E.). Antibody titers to sperm, T-cell line HSB-2, and B-cell lines RAJI and BALL-1 were within the normal range. Significant correlations were found between anti-Candida, anti-ovarian, and anti-thymocyte antibody titers. Similar results were found for 6 patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMCC) and in serial samples obtained over a one-year period from a representative patient with both CVC and CMCC. The anti-T-lymphocyte antibodies in these patients were directed primarily against non-suppressor (predominately helper) T cells. Absorption of the sera with either Candida cells, ovarian follicle cells, or thymocytes reduced all three antibody titers; absorption with sperm or B-cell lines did not alter the titers. These results suggest the presence of one or more cross-reactive antigens on ovarian follicle, T lymphocytes (especially the helper cell subpopulation), and Candida.
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology; D002179:Candidiasis, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000276:immunology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal