CONTRIBUTION OF FUNGAL VIRULENCE FACTORS AND FUNGAL RECOGNITION RECEPTORS IN THE REGULATION OF THE EXPRESSION OF HUMAN BETA DEFENSINS 1 AND 3

ANGIOLINI SC; RODRIGUEZ EMILSE; MIRÓ MS; ICELY PA; SOTOMAYOR CE

Mar del Plata

Congreso; Reunión Anual de Sociedades de Biociencias 2022; 2022

Sociedades de Biociencias. SAIC, SAI, SAFIS

Acute vulvovaginal candidiasis (AVVC) is an inflammatory disease that affects up to 75% of women of childbearing age once in their lifetime, but 9% of them present a recurrent form of mycosis (RVVC) (>=4 episodes per year). Candida albicans (Ca) is the most prevalent agent, its main virulence factors are hyphal formation, adherence, hydrolytic enzyme generation and biofilm forming capacity (BFC). Human β-defensins 1 and 3 (hBDs) are cationic peptides with antimicrobial and chemoattractant activity. Our aim was to characterize the virulence pattern of Ca clinical isolates from AVVC and RVVC patients and the role of Ca virulence factors and innate recognition in the regulation of hBDs. BFC, lipase activity (LIP) and aspartylproteinases activity (SAP) of strains isolated from patients (CVVR=20 and CVVA=20), collection strains (SC5314 and ATCC36801) and β-glucan mutation (FKS1) were evaluated. Ca, heat-killed Candida (HKC) strains or fungal PAMPs agonists (LPS, Pam3CSK4, Zymosan,Curland) were added to HeLa cell cultures and modulation of hBDs 1 and 3 (2 or 4h) was determined by qPCR and protein expression (INCell Analyzer2500 HS). CVVR strains showed lower CBF than CVVA and Ca-SC5314 (p<0.05), while SAP activity was higher than in CVVA isolates (p<0.05). Clinical strains were classified according to their virulence profile and used to stimulate HeLa cells. At different study time, particular transcription profile was observed: at 2h, HKC up regulate both BDs(p<0.05); at 4h, Ca FKS1 increase hBD1,3 mRNA, meanwhile HKC and Ca SC5314 up regulate hBD1 and CVVR isolates selectively increased hBD3. Protein expression of hBDs showed different pattern against evaluated stimuli. Knowledge of the virulence attributes of Ca and the role of RRPs exhibited during CVVR in the modulation of BDs is relevant for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease and evaluating their potential use as therapeutic agents.