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Happel AU, Gasper M, Balle C, Konstantinus I, Gamieldien H, Dabee S, Gill K, Bekker LG, Passmore JAS, Jaspan HB. Persistent, Asymptomatic Colonization with Candida is Associated with Elevated Frequencies of Highly Activated Cervical Th17-Like Cells and Related Cytokines in the Reproductive Tract of South African Adolescents. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0162621. [PMID: 35348351 PMCID: PMC9045181 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01626-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cervicovaginal inflammation, nonoptimal microbiota, T-cell activation, and hormonal contraceptives may increase HIV risk, yet associations between these factors and subclinical Candida colonization or hyphae are unknown. We collected cervicovaginal samples from 94 South African adolescents, aged 15 to 19 years, who were randomized to injectable norethisterone enanthate (Net-En), an etonorgesterol/ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring (NuvaRing), or oral contraceptives in the UChoose trial (NCT02404038) at baseline and 16 weeks post-randomization. We assessed cervicovaginal samples for subclinical Candida colonization (by quantitative PCR [qPCR]), hyphae (by Gram stain), microbiota composition (by 16S rRNA gene sequencing), cytokine concentrations (by Luminex), and cervical T-cell phenotypes and activation (by multiparameter flow cytometry). While hormonal contraceptive type did not influence incidence of Candida colonization or hyphae, hyphae presence was associated with significantly elevated concentrations of IL-22, IL-17A and IL-17F, all produced by Th17 cells, but not of other cytokines, such as IL-1β or IL-6, after adjustment for confounders. Subclinical Candida colonization was associated with reduced frequencies of Th17-like cells and elevated frequencies of CCR6-CCR10 T cells. Women with Candida hyphae were less likely to have bacterial vaginosis (BV). Persistent, subclinical colonization with Candida over 16 weeks was associated with significant increases in Th17-related cytokine concentrations and highly activated Th17-like and CCR6-CCR10 T-cell frequencies. These data suggest that vaginal Candida colonization and hyphae increase Th17-related cytokines, but not overall female genital tract inflammation in Sub-Saharan African adolescents. Persistent Candida colonization, even when asymptomatic, may increase Th17 cell frequencies and related cytokines and thereby could subsequently increase HIV risk, although the causal relationship requires confirmation. IMPORTANCE Sub-Saharan African female adolescents are globally at the highest risk of HIV acquisition, and genital inflammation, microbial dysbiosis, and cervical HIV target cell activation are thought to contribute to this risk. Previously, the relationship between these mucosal factors and subclinical vaginal Candida colonization or hyphae has not been described, and the role of HIV-susceptible Th17 cells in mediating anti-Candida immunity in the human female genital tract has not been clearly established. We show that presence of yeast hyphae was associated with increases in Th17 cell-related cytokines and the absence of microbial dysbiosis, and that persistent Candida colonization resulted in significant increases in Th17-related cytokines and highly activated Th17-like cell frequencies. Our results suggest that Th17 cells are important for anti-Candida immunity in the human female genital tract and that prolonged vaginal Candida colonization may contribute to increased HIV risk in Sub-Saharan African adolescents by increasing HIV target cell frequencies and activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Ursula Happel
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Melanie Gasper
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Christina Balle
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Iyaloo Konstantinus
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Namibia Institute of Pathology, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Hoyam Gamieldien
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Smritee Dabee
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Katherine Gill
- Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Linda-Gail Bekker
- Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jo-Ann S. Passmore
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- DST-NRF CAPRISA Centre of Excellence in HIV Prevention, Cape Town, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Heather B. Jaspan
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Abe M, Kinjo Y, Sadamoto S, Shinozaki M, Nagi M, Shibuya K, Miyazaki Y. α-galactosylceramide-stimulated invariant natural killer T-cells play a protective role in murine vulvovaginal candidiasis by Candida albicans. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0259306. [PMID: 34784362 PMCID: PMC8594805 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vulvovaginal candidiasis is a common superficial candidiasis; however, a host's immunological mechanism against vaginal Candida infection remains unknown. OBJECTIVES In this study, we aimed to elucidate the effect of iNKT cell activation on vulvovaginal candidiasis. METHODS Using a vulvovaginal candidiasis model with estrogenized mice, we evaluated the fungal burden and number of leukocyte infiltrations in the vaginal lavage of wild-type C57BL/6J mice after Candida albicans inoculation. One day before C. albicans inoculation, α-galactosylceramide (the α-GalCer group) or sterile phosphate-buffered saline (the sham group) was intraperitoneally injected into the mice. We also evaluated the level of antimicrobial peptide S100A8 in the vaginal lavage and analyzed the correlation between S100A8 concentration and the number of vaginal leukocyte infiltrations. Moreover, the number of uterine and vaginal immune cells were evaluated using flow cytometry. RESULTS The number of vaginal leukocyte infiltrations was significantly higher in the α-GalCer group than in the sham group 3 days after C. albicans inoculation. In addition, the fungal burden was significantly lower in the α-GalCer group than the sham group at 7 days after inoculation. In the analysis of S100A8 concentration of vaginal lavage, there were no significant differences between these two groups, although S100A8 concentration and the number of vaginal leukocyte infiltrations were positively correlated in the α-GalCer group. Moreover, the number of vaginal iNKT cells, NK cells and CD8+ T-cells was significantly higher in the α-GalCer group 3 days after inoculation. CONCLUSIONS α-GalCer-stimulated iNKT cells likely play a protective role against vulvovaginal candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Abe
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuki Kinjo
- Department of Bacteriology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Jikei Center for Biofilm Science and Technology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Intelligent Network for Infection Control, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Sota Sadamoto
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Toho University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Minoru Shinozaki
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Toho University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Minoru Nagi
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazutoshi Shibuya
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Toho University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshitsugu Miyazaki
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
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3
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Peters BM, Coleman BM, Willems HME, Barker KS, Aggor FEY, Cipolla E, Verma AH, Bishu S, Huppler AH, Bruno VM, Gaffen SL. The Interleukin (IL) 17R/IL-22R Signaling Axis Is Dispensable for Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Regardless of Estrogen Status. J Infect Dis 2021; 221:1554-1563. [PMID: 31805183 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans, a ubiquitous commensal fungus that colonizes human mucosal tissues and skin, can become pathogenic, clinically manifesting most commonly as oropharyngeal candidiasis and vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Studies in mice and humans convincingly show that T-helper 17 (Th17)/interleukin 17 (IL-17)-driven immunity is essential to control oral and dermal candidiasis. However, the role of the IL-17 pathway during VVC remains controversial, with conflicting reports from human data and mouse models. Like others, we observed induction of a strong IL-17-related gene signature in the vagina during estrogen-dependent murine VVC. As estrogen increases susceptibility to vaginal colonization and resulting immunopathology, we asked whether estrogen use in the standard VVC model masks a role for the Th17/IL-17 axis. We demonstrate that mice lacking IL-17RA, Act1, or interleukin 22 showed no evidence for altered VVC susceptibility or immunopathology, regardless of estrogen administration. Hence, these data support the emerging consensus that Th17/IL-17 axis signaling is dispensable for the immunopathogenesis of VVC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian M Peters
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Bianca M Coleman
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Hubertine M E Willems
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Katherine S Barker
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Felix E Y Aggor
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ellyse Cipolla
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Akash H Verma
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Srinivas Bishu
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Anna H Huppler
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Vincent M Bruno
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sarah L Gaffen
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Borghi M, Pariano M, Solito V, Puccetti M, Bellet MM, Stincardini C, Renga G, Vacca C, Sellitto F, Mosci P, Brancorsini S, Romani L, Costantini C. Targeting the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor With Indole-3-Aldehyde Protects From Vulvovaginal Candidiasis via the IL-22-IL-18 Cross-Talk. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2364. [PMID: 31681274 PMCID: PMC6798081 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common mucosal infection caused by Candida spp., most frequently by Candida albicans, which may become recurrent and severely impacting the quality of life of susceptible women. Although it is increasingly being recognized that mucosal damage is mediated by an exaggerated inflammatory response, current therapeutic approaches are only based on antifungals that may relieve the symptomatology, but fail to definitely prevent recurrences. The unrestrained activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome with continuous production of IL-1β and recruitment of neutrophils is recognized as a pathogenic factor in VVC. We have previously shown that IL-22 is required to dampen pathogenic inflammasome activation in VVC via the NLRC4/IL-1Ra axis. However, IL-22 also regulates IL-18, a product of the inflammasome activity that regulates IL-22 expression. Here we describe a cross-regulatory circuit between IL-18 and IL-22 in murine VVC that is therapeutically druggable. We found that IL-18 production was dependent on IL-22 and NLRC4, and that IL-18, in turn, contributes to IL-22 activity. Like in IL-22 deficiency, IL-18 deficiency was associated with an increased susceptibility to VVC and unbalanced Th17/Treg response, suggesting that IL-18 can regulate both the innate and the adaptive responses to the fungus. Administration of the microbial metabolite indole-3-aldehyde, known to stimulate the production of IL-22 via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), promoted IL-18 expression and protection against Candida infection. Should low levels of IL-18 be demonstrated in the vaginal fluids of women with recurrent VVC, targeting the AhR/IL-22/IL-18 pathway could be exploited for future therapeutic approaches in VVC. This study suggests that a deeper understanding of the mechanisms regulating inflammasome activity may lead to the identification of novel targets for intervention in VVC.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/agonists
- Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/genetics
- Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/immunology
- Candida albicans/immunology
- Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal/drug therapy
- Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal/genetics
- Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal/immunology
- Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal/pathology
- Female
- Indoles/pharmacology
- Inflammasomes/genetics
- Inflammasomes/immunology
- Interleukin-18/genetics
- Interleukin-18/immunology
- Interleukins/genetics
- Interleukins/immunology
- Mice
- Mice, Knockout
- NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics
- NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/immunology
- Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/agonists
- Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/genetics
- Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/immunology
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
- Signal Transduction/genetics
- Signal Transduction/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/pathology
- Th17 Cells/immunology
- Th17 Cells/pathology
- Interleukin-22
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Borghi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Marilena Pariano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Valentina Solito
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Matteo Puccetti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Marina M. Bellet
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Giorgia Renga
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Carmine Vacca
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Federica Sellitto
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Paolo Mosci
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Luigina Romani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Claudio Costantini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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5
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Cai X, Kong F, Wang R, Zhai S, Guan X, Zhang G, Wang D. Candida albicans vaginitis in a murine model is reduced by polypeptide-enriched Gastrodia elata extracts. Future Microbiol 2019; 14:839-846. [DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2018-0299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of polypeptide-enriched Gastrodia elata extracts (GE) on vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Materials & methods: A VVC model induced by Candida albicans ( C. albicans) infection was successfully developed in BALB/c mice. After treatment, the colony-forming unit (CFU) of vaginal lavage was measured by plating. The extent of the inflammatory response was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: GE had an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of C. albicans and inflammatory reaction. Meanwhile, it had a potentially beneficial effect on the growth of Lactobacillus. Conclusion: These results showed the potential application of GE as an antifungal agent in VVC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueying Cai
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, Jilin Province, China
| | - Fange Kong
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, Jilin Province, China
| | - Ruochen Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, Jilin Province, China
| | - Siyu Zhai
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, Jilin Province, China
| | - Xin Guan
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130006, Jilin Province, China
| | - Guirong Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, Jilin Province, China
| | - Di Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, Jilin Province, China
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