Dataset Information

Candida albicans Modulates Murine and Human Beta Defensin-1 during Vaginitis.

ABSTRACT: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) are two forms of a disease caused by Candida spp. β-defensin (BD) is one of the most important families of antimicrobial peptides in the female genital tract and includes molecules that exert essential local functions as antimicrobial and PMN chemoattractant peptides. However, the information on their role during murine and human VVC and RVVC is limited. Thus, we analyzed the behavior and contribution of BD1 to the local response in a VVC mice model and the local cytokine profile and human BD1 and BD3 expression in cervicovaginal lavage from patients with VVC and RVVC. We demonstrated that, in patients with RVVC BD1, mRNA and protein expression were severely diminished and that the aspartate proteinase and lipase secreted by C. albicans are involved in that decrease. This study provides novel information about the pathogenesis of VVC and describes a highly efficient C. albicans escape strategy for perpetuating the infection; these results may contribute to the development of new or combined treatment approaches.

SUBMITTER: Miro MS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8778459 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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<i>Candida albicans</i> Modulates Murine and Human Beta Defensin-1 during Vaginitis.

Miró María Soledad MS Caeiro Juan Pablo JP Rodriguez Emilse E Vargas Lara L Vigezzi Cecilia C Icely Paula A PA Castillo Graciela D V GDV Azcurra Ana I AI Abiega Claudio D CD Riera Fernando O FO Sotomayor Claudia E CE

Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland) 20211228 1

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) are two forms of a disease caused by <i>Candida</i> spp. β-defensin (BD) is one of the most important families of antimicrobial peptides in the female genital tract and includes molecules that exert essential local functions as antimicrobial and PMN chemoattractant peptides. However, the information on their role during murine and human VVC and RVVC is limited. Thus, we analyzed the behavior and contribution of BD1 to t ...[more]

PMID: 35049960

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Project description:Vulvovaginal candidiasis, caused primarily by Candida albicans, presents significant health issues for women of childbearing age. As a polymorphic fungus, the ability of C. albicans to switch between yeast and hyphal morphologies is considered its central virulence attribute. Armed with new criteria for defining vaginitis immunopathology, the purpose of this study was to determine whether the yeast-to-hypha transition is required for the hallmark inflammatory responses previously characterized during murine vaginitis. Kinetic analyses of vaginal infection with C. albicans in C57BL/6 mice demonstrated that fungal burdens remained constant throughout the observation period, while polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN), S100A8, and interleukin-1? levels obtained from vaginal lavage fluid increased by day 3 onward. Lactate dehydrogenase activity was also positively correlated with increased effectors of innate immunity. Additionally, immunodepletion of neutrophils in infected mice confirmed a nonprotective role for PMNs during vaginitis. Determination of the importance of fungal morphogenesis during vaginitis was addressed with a two-pronged approach. Intravaginal inoculation of mice with C. albicans strains deleted for key transcriptional regulators (bcr1?/?, efg1?/?, cph1?/?, and efg1?/? cph1?/?) controlling the yeast-to-hypha switch revealed a crucial role for morphogenetic signaling through the Efg1 and, to a lesser extent, the Bcr1 pathways in contributing to vaginitis immunopathology. Furthermore, overexpression of transcription factors NRG1 and UME6, to maintain yeast and hyphal morphologies, respectively, confirmed the importance of morphogenesis in generating innate immune responses in vivo. These results highlight the yeast-to-hypha switch and the associated morphogenetic response as important virulence components for the immunopathogenesis of Candida vaginitis, with implications for transition from benign colonization to symptomatic infection.

Project description:UNLABELLED:Vaginal inflammation (vaginitis) is the most common disease caused by the human-pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. Secretory aspartyl proteinases (Sap) are major virulence traits of C. albicans that have been suggested to play a role in vaginitis. To dissect the mechanisms by which Sap play this role, Sap2, a dominantly expressed member of the Sap family and a putative constituent of an anti-Candida vaccine, was used. Injection of full-length Sap2 into the mouse vagina caused local neutrophil influx and accumulation of the inflammasome-dependent interleukin-1β (IL-1β) but not of inflammasome-independent tumor necrosis factor alpha. Sap2 could be replaced by other Sap, while no inflammation was induced by the vaccine antigen, the N-terminal-truncated, enzymatically inactive tSap2. Anti-Sap2 antibodies, in particular Fab from a human combinatorial antibody library, inhibited or abolished the inflammatory response, provided the antibodies were able, like the Sap inhibitor Pepstatin A, to inhibit Sap enzyme activity. The same antibodies and Pepstatin A also inhibited neutrophil influx and cytokine production stimulated by C. albicans intravaginal injection, and a mutant strain lacking SAP1, SAP2, and SAP3 was unable to cause vaginal inflammation. Sap2 induced expression of activated caspase-1 in murine and human vaginal epithelial cells. Caspase-1 inhibition downregulated IL-1β and IL-18 production by vaginal epithelial cells, and blockade of the IL-1β receptor strongly reduced neutrophil influx. Overall, the data suggest that some Sap, particularly Sap2, are proinflammatory proteins in vivo and can mediate the inflammasome-dependent, acute inflammatory response of vaginal epithelial cells to C. albicans. These findings support the notion that vaccine-induced or passively administered anti-Sap antibodies could contribute to control vaginitis. IMPORTANCE:Candidal vaginitis is an acute inflammatory disease that affects many women of fertile age, with no definitive cure and, in its recurrent forms, causing true devastation of quality of life. Unraveling the fungal factors causing inflammation is important to be able to devise novel tools to fight the disease. In an experimental murine model, we have discovered that aspartyl proteinases, particularly Sap2, may cause the same inflammatory signs of vaginitis caused by the fungus and that anti-Sap antibodies and the protease inhibitor Pepstatin A almost equally inhibit Sap- and C. albicans-induced inflammation. Sap-induced vaginitis is an early event during vaginal infection, is uncoupled from fungal growth, and requires Sap and caspase-1 enzymatic activities to occur, suggesting that Sap or products of Sap activity activate an inflammasome sensor of epithelial cells. Our data support the notion that anti-Sap antibodies could help control the essence of candidal vaginitis, i.e., the inflammatory response.

Project description:The dimorphic fungus Candida albicans is one of the most important opportunistic pathogens for humankind. The use of fungicides against Candida could be associated with sub-inhibitory effects, which are referred to as fungal stress responses and are undesirable for the host. In this work, we investigated the antifungal action of 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (2,4-DAPG) against Candida albicans ATCC 10231 with a focus on their biofilm-forming ability. We found that 2,4-DAPG was able to reduce the ability of Candida cells to form biofilms, but complete inhibition and eradication effects were not achieved. Furthermore, C. albicans cells in the adherent state were characterized by reduced susceptibility to 2,4-DAPG compared to planktonic cells. The investigation of the mechanisms that could explain the antibiofilm action of 2,4-DAPG revealed a reduction in the cell`s surface hydrophobicity and the inhibition of the yeast-to-hyphae transition. The inhibition of the Candida cells filamentation was accompanied by an increase in the expression of the NRG1 gene, which is a negative regulator of hyphal development. In addition, we microscopically visualized the treated biofilms and revealed numerous channels that were decorated with particles and localized on the hyphae. We assumed that these hyphal structures could be associated with the secretion of aspartyl proteases (Sap). The performed assessments revealed an increase in the activity of Sap, which was accompanied by an increase in the expression of the sap2 and sap4 genes. The antifungal action of 2,4-DAPG is known to be associated with affecting the permeability of cellular structures, which leads to H+ATPase malfunction and the disruption of mitochondrial respiration. The subsequent cytosol acidification and generation of ROS trigger the inhibition of Candida filamentation and activation of Sap production. The introduction of antioxidant Trolox simultaneously with 2,4-DAPG leads to a reduction in Sap production. Collectively, the obtained data indicate new aspects of the interaction of fungal cells with 2,4-DAPG, an antimicrobial metabolite of Pseudomonas spp.

Dataset Information

Candida albicans Modulates Murine and Human Beta Defensin-1 during Vaginitis.

Publications

<i>Candida albicans</i> Modulates Murine and Human Beta Defensin-1 during Vaginitis.

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