Systemic and mucosal immunization with Candida albicans hsp90 elicits hsp90-specific humoral response in vaginal mucosa which is further enhanced during experimental vaginal candidiasis.
The Candida albicans heat shock protein 90 kDa (hsp90-CA) is an important target for protective antibodies in disseminated candidiasis of experimental mice and humans. Hsp90-CA is present in the cell wall of Candida pseudohyphae or hyphae--typical pathogenic morphotypes in both mucosal and systemic Candida infections. However, the potential protective effects of hsp90-CA-specific antibodies in vaginal candidiasis has not yet been reported. In the present study we used various vaccine formulations (recombinant hsp90-CA protein and hsp90-CA-encoding DNA vaccine) and routes of administration (intradermal, intranasal, and intravenous) to induce both hsp90-CA-specific systemic and vaginal mucosa immune responses in experimental BALB/c mice. The results showed that intradermal recombinant hsp90-CA protein priming, followed by intranasal or intradermal recombinant hsp90-CA protein boosting induced significant increases in both serum and vaginal hsp90-CA-specific IgG and IgA antibodies compared to the control group, as well as enhanced hsp90-CA-specific splenocyte responses in vitro. In the intradermally boosted group, subsequent experimental vaginal Candida infection induced additional increases in the hsp90-CA specific IgG isotype, suggesting that Candida has the ability to induce a local hsp90-specific antibody (IgG) response during vulvovaginal candidiasis. Further work is required to elucidate the importance of immunity to highly conserved antigens during infection of the human female reproductive tract where a balance between immunity to and tolerance for commonly antigens such as hsp90 is necessary for the maintenance of fertility.
Raska
Milan
M
Department of Immunology, Palacky University in Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic. raskamil@uab.edu
Belakova
Jana
J
Horynova
Milada
M
Krupka
Michal
M
Novotny
Jiri
J
Sebestova
Martina
M
Weigl
Evzen
E
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000818:Animals; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology*; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D005657:Fungal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D014621:Vagina / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology
D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D005657:Fungal Vaccines; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic