title: Human vaginal epithelial cells augment autophagy marker genes in response to Candida albicans infection.
abstract: Autophagy plays an important role in clearance of intracellular pathogens. However, no information is available on its involvement in vaginal infections such as vulvo-vaginal candidiasis (VVC). VVC is intimately associated with the immune status of the human vaginal epithelial cells (VECs). The objective of our study is to decipher if autophagy process is involved during Candida albicans infection of VECs.
  
  
  
  In this study, C. albicans infection system was established using human VEC line (VK2/E6E7). Infection-induced change in the expression of autophagy markers like LC3 and LAMP-1 were analyzed by RT-PCR, q-PCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies were carried out to ascertain the localization of autophagosomes. Multiplex ELISA was carried out to determine the cytokine profiles.
  
  
  
  Analysis of LC3 and LAMP-1 expression at mRNA and protein levels at different time points revealed up-regulation of these markers 6 hours post C. albicans infection. LC3 and LAMP-1 puncti were observed in infected VECs after 12 hours. TEM studies showed C. albicans entrapped in autophagosomes. Cytokines-TNF-α and IL-1β were up-regulated in culture supernatants of VECs at 12 hours post-infection.
  
  
  
  The results suggest that C. albicans invasion led to the activation of autophagy as a host defense mechanism of VECs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Immunology and Microbiology (MIM), National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (NIRRH), Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Ankit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shroff
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Immunology and Microbiology (MIM), National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (NIRRH), Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Roicy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sequeira
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Immunology and Microbiology (MIM), National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (NIRRH), Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Kudumula Venkata Rami
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0735-7662
authors.initials: KVR
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: D001343:Autophagy / Q000502:physiology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000473:pathology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014621:Vagina / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: 
  Candida albicans
  ; LC3 and LAMP-1; autophagy; vaginal epithelial cells (VECs)