Vaginal epithelial cell anti-Candida albicans activity is associated with protection against symptomatic vaginal candidiasis

Abstract

Vaginal epithelial cell (VEC) anti-Candida albicans activity, despite being measured in vitro, is considered an innate host defense mechanism. This was supported further by the fact that women protected from symptomatic infection following a live intravaginal Candida challenge had increased VEC anti-Candida activity compared to those who acquired a symptomatic infection.

FIG. 1.

VEC growth inhibition of C. albicans. VECs were collected from women participating in a live intravaginal Candida challenge. The women were divided into groups, symptomatically infected and asymptomatically infected (the matched counterpart), based on the outcome of the challenge. The cells were evaluated for anti-Candida activity by a [³H]glucose uptake assay prior to challenge. Results are expressed as percent inhibition of total glucose uptake by C. albicans at various E:T ratios with epithelial cells. The figure shows the means ± standard errors of the means (SEM) for individual tests. *, P < 0.05.