title: Serum antibody levels correlate with oral fungal cell numbers and influence the patients' response to chronic paracoccidioidomycosis.
abstract: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a neglected fungal disease that elicits an important granulomatous inflammatory reaction which aims to isolate the fungi and resolve the infection; besides the innate cellular response, the patients' sera may contain different levels of antibodies directed against PCM's pathogenic agent: Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb). The aim of the study was to assess the distinct serum antibody levels of 19 chronic PCM patients and to associate these levels to the granulomatous inflammatory response and presence of fungi in oral lesions caused by Pb. The presence of Pb was detected and counted within oral tissues using immunohistochemistry; antibody levels were classified as negative, low-grade, moderate or high-grade groups. The Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's test were used to verify possible associations among the groups. Interestingly, lower antibody titres were associated with lesser numbers of Pb, which favours the cellular response over the humoral response to fight PCM. On the other hand, negative serological results were linked to a higher presence of Pb in the tissues, indicating that a deficient humoral response supports the fungal proliferation. The number of Pb was conveniently associated with the level of serum antibodies, showing that the humoral immune response is required, however, not solely responsible to restrain the dissemination of Pb.
authors: Department of Clinic and Surgery, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
authors: Marina Lara
authors: ML
authors: de Carli
authors: Department of Clinic and Surgery, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
authors: Beatriz Cristina Bachião
authors: BC
authors: Cardoso
authors: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
authors: Luiz Cosme Cotta
authors: LC
authors: Malaquias
authors: Pathology Center, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: Suely
authors: S
authors: Nonogaki
authors: Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
authors: Alessandro Antônio Costa
authors: AA
authors: Pereira
authors: Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
authors: Felipe Fornias
authors: FF
authors: Sperandio
authors: Department of Clinic and Surgery, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
authors: João Adolfo Costa
authors: JA
authors: Hanemann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000097:blood*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010228:Paracoccidioides / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010229:Paracoccidioidomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D044967:Serum / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000908:Antibodies, Fungal
keywords: inflammation; paracoccidioides; paracoccidioidomycosis; serology