title: Irradiation-induced oral candidiasis in an experimental murine model.
abstract: The aim of this experiment was to establish a mouse model of irradiation-induced oral candidiasis and to explore the cellular populations and mechanisms by which the infection is cleared from the oral mucosa. BALB/c mice received irradiation to the head and neck equivalent to 800 Rad using a Cobalt 60 gamma source. Both irradiated and non-irradiated mice were infected orally with 1 x 10(8) Candida albicans yeasts. Compared with untreated controls, irradiated animals developed a more severe infection of longer duration, with hyphae penetrating the oral mucosa. Monoclonal antibody depletion of CD4+ but not CD8+ T cells from the systemic circulation prolonged the infection in irradiated mice, but not in controls. Supernatants of submandibular and superficial cervical lymph node cultures from irradiated animals demonstrated significantly higher titers of interleukin-12, but similar levels of interferon-gamma compared with controls. Screening for cytokine production by an RNase protection assay detected only macrophage migration inhibition factor in irradiated and non-irradiated oral tissues from day 8 onwards. The results of this study demonstrate a requirement for CD4+ T cells in the recovery from oral candidiasis induced by head and neck irradiation in mice, and are consistent with a role for Th1-type cytokines in host resistance.
authors.affiliation: Oral Biology and Pathology, School of Dentistry, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Farah
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wanasaengsakul
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elahi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gotjamanos
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Seymour
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Clancy
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Ashman
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000502:physiology; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000528:radiation effects; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000032:analysis; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma