title: Type 1 T helper cells specific for Candida albicans antigens in peripheral blood and vaginal mucosa of women with recurrent vaginal candidiasis.
abstract: The cytokine profile of circulating and vaginal T cells specific for immunodominant mannoprotein antigens of Candida albicans was analyzed in patients with recurrent vaginal candidiasis (RVC). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with RVC proliferated more than those from healthy subjects and expressed higher type 1:type 2 T helper cell cytokine ratios in response to C. albicans stimulation. A higher number of C. albicans-specific T cells was generated in PBMC from patients with RVC than in PBMC from healthy donors. C. albicans-specific T cell clones from patients with RVC produced higher levels of interferon (IFN)-gamma and lower levels of interleukin (IL)-4 than clones from control women. More important, a higher proportion of C. albicans-specific T cell clones was generated from lesional mucosa of patients with RVC than from normal mucosa, all of which produced IFN-gamma but not IL-4. These findings provide direct evidence that RVC is characterized by a highly polarized local and circulating type 1 T helper cell-like response against C. albicans antigens.
authors.affiliation: Immunoallergology Section, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Marie-Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Piccinni
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vultaggio
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scaletti
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Livi
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Giudizi
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biagiotti
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cassone
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Romagnani
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maggi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D012008:Recurrence; D013045:Species Specificity; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D016207:Cytokines; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma