Analysis of the Candida albicans - specific T-cell response and oropharyngeal Candida colonization in a cohort of HIV-1-infected patients.
To investigate Candida epidemiology and immunologic correlates of protection in HIV-1 infected patients, we analyzed oral Candida colonization in correlation to the Candida-specific T-cell response measured by g-IFN ELISPOT using different Candida (C.) albicans strains. In 16/46 patients (13 asymptomatic, 3 with oral thrush), but in 0/28 controls, Candida (13 C. albicans, 1 C. lusitaniae, 1 C. krusei, 1 C. parapsilosis) was isolated. Candida specific T-cells were detected more frequently in controls (20/28) than in HIV-1+ subjects (16/46, p= 0.03). We observed a significant association of higher CD4 cell numbers with both detection of Candida specific T-cells and lack of oral Candida colonization, but there was no significant correlation of oral Candida colonization to the detection of Candida specific T-cells, viral load or antiretroviral therapy. Thus, local mucosal immunity seems to be more important in the pathogenesis of Candida colonization than circulating Candida specific T-cells. The pathogenic C. albicans strain K24122 was less frequently recognized by patients (6/46) than the laboratory adapted strain SC5314 (14/46, p= 0.03), whereas a similar recognition of both strains was observed in healthy controls. This indicates an impaired Candida-specific T-cell repertoire in HIV+ patients that could increase the risk of immune evasion by C. albicans.
Bäuerle
Michael
M
Department of Internal Medicine III, Immunodeficiency Center, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Krankenhausstrasse 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. michael.baeuerle@med3.imed.uni-erlangen.de
Schröppel
K
K
Taylor
B
B
Bergmann
S
S
Schmitt-Haendle
M
M
Harrer
T
T
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000502:physiology*; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D019562:Viral Load
D007371:Interferon-gamma