Protective effects of farnesol against oral candidiasis in mice.
Farnesol is known as a quorum-sensing molecule for Candida albicans and is recognized to play pathogenic roles in Candida infection. To assess the possible role of farnesol in mucosal C. albicans infection, the effects of farnesol treatment against experimental oral candidiasis in mice were examined. Prednisolone-pretreated ICR mice were orally infected with C. albicans and 3, 24 and 30 hr later the animals were orally given farnesol. Forty-eight hr later they were killed for observation. Farnesol treatment in a dose ranging between 1.125 and 9 micromol/mouse showed a protective effect against oral candidiasis in a dose-dependent manner, at least as estimated by symptom scores of tongues. At 9 micromol/mouse it decreased bodyweight loss. Histological studies of 2.25 micromol/mouse farnesol-treated animals indicated that farnesol suppressed mycelial growth of C. albicans on the surface of tongues, but microbiological study did not prevent the change of CFU of C. albicans cells not only on tongues but also in feces, kidneys and livers. These results suggest that farnesol has very characteristic roles in protection against mucosal candidiasis.
Hisajima
Tatsuya
T
Teikyo University Institute of Medical Mycology, Tokyo, Japan. hisajimatatsuya@mac.com
Maruyama
Naho
N
Tanabe
Yuko
Y
Ishibashi
Hiroko
H
Yamada
Tsuyoshi
T
Makimura
Koichi
K
Nishiyama
Yayoi
Y
Funakoshi
Kengo
K
Oshima
Haruyuki
H
Abe
Shigeru
S
D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001835:Body Weight; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects*; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005204:Farnesol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000382:microbiology; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D025282:Mycelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014059:Tongue / Q000473:pathology
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D005204:Farnesol