title: Photodynamic therapy has antifungal effect and reduces inflammatory signals in Candida albicans-induced murine vaginitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vaginal candidiasis (VC) is a disease that affects thousands of women of childbearing age, mainly caused by Candida albicans fungus. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses photosensitizing substances that are nontoxic in the dark, but able to produce reactive oxygen species when they are subjected to a light source. In this work our purpose was to investigate PDT effects on fungal burden and inflammatory cells in a murine model of C. albicans-induced vaginal candidiasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female BALB/c mice 6-10 weeks were estrogenized and maintained in this state during all experiment. After 72h, mices were inoculated intravaginally (IV) with 20μL of 2×10(5)C. albicans cells suspension. Mice were separated into 5 groups after five days: H (healthy), PBS (control), laser, MB (methylene blue) and PDT. PDT and MB groups received IV 20μL solution with 1mM of MB, others received PBS. PDT and laser groups were irradiated with a red laser (100mW, 660nm) in one (36J, 6min) or two sessions (18J, 3min). After the end of treatment, mice were submitted to microbiological and histomorphometric analysis with ImageJ software. Data were plotted by mean values and standard deviations of CFU/mL and percentage of inflammatory cells area. ANOVA and Bonferroni post-test were used and data were considered significant when p<0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PDT significantly reduced C. albicans after the two tested protocols, however, percentage area of inflammatory cells was significantly reduced just with two sessions of PDT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PDT with MB and red laser is a promising therapy for VC. It is able to reduce fungal infection in biofilm and inflammatory signals associated with VC in a murine model of vaginitis.
authors.affiliation: Center for Lasers and Applications, IPEN-CNEN/SP, Av. Lineu Prestes, 2242, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology, IFTO, Av. Amazonas, Qd 56 - Lt 01, 77826-170 Araguaina, TO, Brazil.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Machado-de-Sena
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Dentistry School, University of São Paulo, FOUSP, Av. Lineu Prestes, 2227, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corrêa
authors.affiliation: Center for Lasers and Applications, IPEN-CNEN/SP, Av. Lineu Prestes, 2242, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: I T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Nove de Julho University, UNINOVE, Rua Vergueiro, 235, 01504-001 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Prates
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, Palmas General Hospital, Av. 201 SUL NS1, Conj. 02 - Lt 01, 77015-202 Palmas, TO, Brazil; Department of Lasers and Photomedicine, Tocantinense Institute President Antônio Carlos, Rua 02 Qd 07 s/n, 77500-000 Porto Nacional, TO, Brazil.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Senna
authors.affiliation: Center for Lasers and Applications, IPEN-CNEN/SP, Av. Lineu Prestes, 2242, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Center for Lasers and Applications, IPEN-CNEN/SP, Av. Lineu Prestes, 2242, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Picanço
authors.affiliation: Center for Lasers and Applications, IPEN-CNEN/SP, Av. Lineu Prestes, 2242, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: marthasr@usp.br.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014627:Vaginitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D008751:Methylene Blue
keywords: Methylene blue; Phototherapy; Red laser; Vaginal candidiasis