T cells specific for Candida albicans antigens and producing type 2 cytokines in lesional mucosa of untreated HIV-infected patients with pseudomembranous oropharyngeal candidiasis.
Factors influencing the susceptibility to mucosal candidiasis in HIV-infected patients are not clearly understood. Since in animal models of candidiasis the T helper (Th)1- or Th2-responses are protective or non-protective, respectively, this study was aimed to evaluate the cytokine profile of T-cell response to Candida albicans in the blood and lesional tissues of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals, suffering, or not, from pseudomembranous oropharyngeal candidiasis (POPC), of HIV-negative women suffering from recurrent vaginal candidiasis (RVC) and of healthy controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV-infected and RVC patients proliferated to C. albicans antigen more than controls. Upon antigen activation, T cells from HIV-infected patients produced low interferon (IFN)-gamma, while only T cells from patients with POPC displayed high interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 production. POPC-positive patients also showed higher serum IgE levels than POPC-negative patients. T-cell clones generated from the oral mucosa of one HIV-infected patient with POPC produced IL-4, but not IFN-gamma (Th2 phenotype), whereas clones obtained from vaginal mucosa from one RVC patient or one healthy donor showed a Th1 profile. These findings, showing a non-protective Th0/Th2 response to C. albicans antigen in the blood and lesional mucosa of HIV-infected patients with POPC, may explain the high susceptibility of candidiasis in these subjects.
Vultaggio
Alessandra
A
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Firenze, Viale Morgagni 85, 50134 Firenze, Italy.
Lombardelli
Letizia
L
Giudizi
Maria Grazia
MG
Biagiotti
Roberta
R
Mazzinghi
Benedetta
B
Scaletti
Cristina
C
Mazzetti
Marcello
M
Livi
Claudia
C
Leoncini
Francesco
F
Romagnani
Sergio
S
Maggi
Enrico
E
Piccinni
Marie-Pierre
MP
D000328:Adult; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000097:blood; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology*; D001769:Blood / Q000276:immunology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology*; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D016207:Cytokines; D007073:Immunoglobulin E