Mannose-binding lectin and vulvovaginal candidiasis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) gene polymorphism on the immune system and the significance of vaginal MBL concentration in the pathogenesis of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and recurrent VVC (rVVC).


METHODS
Mannose-binding lectin concentrations in CVL samples from 111 women were collected between August 2004 and November 2004, 51 with VVC, 6 with rVVC patients, and 54 healthy women. CVL MBL concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and MBL gene polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and the restriction fragment length polymorphism method.


RESULTS
Cervicovaginal lavage MBL concentration (17.80 ng/mL) and gene mutation frequency (33.33%) were both significantly higher in women with VVC (P<0.01) than in controls (odds ratio [OR], 2.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-7.57; P<0.05). On the other hand, MBL concentration was lower in women with rVVC (0.30 ng/mL) than in controls (1.28 ng/mL) (P<0.05), although MBL gene mutation frequency (83.33%) was significantly higher in women with rVVC than in controls (OR, 26.87; 95% CI, 2.76-261.65; P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of VVC can increase vaginal MBL level, which may be an immune response against Candida albicans infection; in women with rVVC, the low level of MBL in the vagina caused by mutation in the MBL gene may play a role in the recurrence of the infection.
Liu
Fei
F
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Hospital Peking University, Beijing, China.
Liao
Qinping
Q
Liu
Zhaohui
Z
D000328:Adult; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000737:chemistry; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D037582:Complement Pathway, Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000235:genetics; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012008:Recurrence; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014621:Vagina / Q000737:chemistry
D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin