Baofukang suppository promotes the repair of vaginal epithelial cells in response to Candida albicans.

Xiaoxi Niu,Zhaohui Liu,Ting Li,Suxia Wang,Xu Zhang

doi:10.1186/s13568-016-0281-1

Xiaoxi Niu, Zhaohui Liu + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-016-0281-1

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Journal: AMB Express	Publication Date: Nov 9, 2016
Citations: 15	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Peking University First Hospital, Peking University

Abstract

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is an opportunistic fungal infection predominantly caused by Candida albicans affecting a significant number of women of reproductive age. The Chinese medicine, the Baofukang suppository is widely used in the clinic for its antimicrobial activity and is therefore of great interest as a potential antifungal drug for the prevention of VVC. We evaluated the cytotoxic activity of the Baofukang suppository using the VK2/E6E7 vaginal epithelial cell (VEC) line. When treated with the Baofukang suppository, all of the immunocompetent cytokines and chemokines (e.g., IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-17) by infected VK2/E6E7 cells was statistically up-regulated (P < 0.05), except IL-4 (11.70 ± 1.82 vs. 14.88 ± 4.72, P = 0.343) compared to the infected control cells. The secretion of non-B IgG also exhibited the same trend. Our scanning electron microscopy results revealed that C. albicans can invade VECs by both induced endocytosis and active penetration. The Baofukang suppository could effectively inhibit the adhesion, hyphal formation, and proliferation, as well as notably restore the vaginal epithelial cell morphology, viability, and enhance the local immune function of the VECs. These preliminary results suggest promising antimicrobial properties of the Baofukang suppository, which may be efficacious as an antifungal therapy candidate via up-regulating Th1 cellular immunity, the Th17-axis of the innate immune response, and the secretion of vaginal epithelial-derived IgG. These combined effects collectively restore the immune function of the infected VECs against C. albicans in vitro.

Highlights

The majority of women experience at least one episode of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) in their lifetime (Sobel et al 1998)
Vaginal epithelial cell culture The VK2/E6E7 vaginal epithelial cell line (ATCC® CRL2616), obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC; Rock ville, MD, USA) is an epithelial cell line derived from the vaginal mucosa of a healthy premenopausal female undergoing vaginal repair surgery, that was subsequently immortalized with human papillomavirus 16/E6E7
Effects of the Baofukang suppository on VK2/E6E7 cell viability To mimic clinical situations in which antibiotics or antifungals may be safe and well-tolerated in the human body, we determined whether the Baofukang suppository affects cell viability

Summary

Introduction

The majority of women experience at least one episode of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) in their lifetime (Sobel et al 1998). The vaginal epithelium as a mucosal surface is of immense importance in host defense and immune surveillance (Moyes et al 2011) It functions as the first line of host defense against pathogen invasion to provide a physical barrier and protect underlying tissues and organs (Cole 2006). Li et al AMB Expr (2016) 6:109 used in traditional Chinese medicine as the adjuvant for more than 1500 years (Jiang et al 2008). It demonstrates anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antibacterial properties, while accelerating percutaneous drug absorption and increasing the bioavailability of drugs in the brain tissue (Almeida et al 2013; Slamenova et al 2009). The aims of this work was to evaluate the in vitro antifungal properties and mechanisms of the Baofukang suppository, which would be further applied widely in clinic as a potential antifungal drug for the prevention of VVC

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