Desmosomes in disease: a guide for clinicians

Scaling up single-cell mechanics to multicellular tissues - the role of the intermediate filament-desmosome network

Cells and tissues sense, respond to and translate mechanical forces into biochemical signals through mechanotransduction, which governs individual cell responses that drive gene expression, metabolic pathways and cell motility, and determines how cells work together in tissues. Mechanotransduction often depends on cytoskeletal networks and their attachment sites that physically couple cells to each other and to the extracellular matrix. One way that cells associate with each other is through Ca2+-dependent adhesion molecules called cadherins, which mediate cell-cell interactions through adherens junctions, thereby anchoring and organizing the cortical actin cytoskeleton. This actin-based network confers dynamic properties to cell sheets and developing organisms. However, these contractile networks do not work alone but in concert with other cytoarchitectural elements, including a diverse network of intermediate filaments. This Review takes a close look at the intermediate filament network and its associated intercellular junctions, desmosomes. We provide evidence that this system not only ensures tissue integrity, but also cooperates with other networks to create more complex tissues with emerging properties in sensing and responding to increasingly stressful environments. We will also draw attention to how defects in intermediate filament and desmosome networks result in both chronic and acquired diseases.

Therapeutic effectiveness of type I interferon in vulvovaginal candidiasis

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) affects approximately 75% of all women of during their reproductive years. Previously, we reported that recombinant human IFN α-2b (rhIFNα-2b) protects vaginal epithelial cells from candidal injury in vitro. In the current study, we examined the effects of rhIFNα-2b (1.25 mg/mL, 10% inhibition concentration) on fungal clearance, immunocompetent cytokine responses, non-B IgG production, and tissue repair in a rat model of VVC. Following rhIFNα-2b treatment, the negative pathogen conversion rate reached 50.0% (3/6). Although rhIFNα-2b exhibited a limited ability to decrease inflammation and injury progression (P > 0.05), the Flameng mitochondrial injury scores were significantly reduced (P < 0.001) compared with those of the Model rats. After rhIFNα-2b treatment, the levels of IFN-γ and epithelial-derived IgG (tested by RP215) in vaginal tissues were significantly increased with those in the Control and Model groups (both P < 0.001), while there were no significant differences in the levels of IL-4 and IL-17 (P > 0.05). This is the first study to address the efficacy of rhIFNα-2b in treating VVC in a rat model, providing a theoretical basis for development of this promising treatment for clinical use.

Local Probiotic Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii Exhibit Strong Antifungal Effects Against Vulvovaginal Candidiasis in a Rat Model

A comprehensive knowledge of the vaginal ecosystem is critical for the development of successful approaches to the treatment of infections. The role of Lactobacilli in preventing vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is controversial. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects and mechanism of Lactobacillus crispatus or delbrueckii on vaginitis caused by Candida albicans in a Sprague–Dawley rat model. A microbiological evaluation was performed by Gram staining and fungal colonies were enumerated. The antifungal efficacy of the two Lactobacillus strains was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunohistochemical detection of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-17, and epithelial-derived IgG (RP125). Our in vitro results showed that the inhibitory activity against Candida colony-forming unit (CFU) counts was demonstrated by the two Lactobacillus strains (P < 0.001). Our results indicated that Lactobacillus administration played an indispensable role in maintaining the immune homeostasis, and decreasing the Th1/Th2 ratio (IFN-γ/IL-4) by regulating the epithelial secretion of cytokines that inhibit epithelial proinflammatory cytokine release, while increasing epithelial-derived IgG expression (P < 0.05), suggesting antibody-mediated protection. Our results implicate L. crispatus and L. delbrueckii as a potential adjunct biotherapeutic agent in women with VVC, especially for those with drug resistance, adverse effects or contraindications when using antifungal agents. Further large, long-term, well-planned clinical studies should be performed in clinical practice to determine their clinical potential of L. crispatus and L. delbrueckii as an adjunct treatment for VVC.