Effects of mometasone and formoterol on the innate immunity of human gingival epithelial cells

Abstract

Background: Corticosteroids (CS) and long acting b2-agonists (LABA) are mainstay of therapy for persistent asthma. Inhaled asthma medications are associated with oropharyngeal disorders and low salivary flow rate which may affect oral epithelial cell innate immunity. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of formoterol and mometasone on Candida albicans growth and transition, and on the expression of Toll-like receptors (TLR) and b-defensin expression by gingival epithelial cells. Methods: C. albicans (103 cells) were incubated with formoterol (10 or 50 ng/ml) or mometasone (10 or 50 ng/ml) separately or in combination, then the yeast growth and transition from blastospore to hyphe forms were evaluated. The effects of the mometasne or formoterol on the expression of TLR-2 and -4 as well as human b-defensin-2 expression by gingival epithelial cells were investigated. Results: Formoterol at 10 ng/ml promoted the growth of C. albicans as compared to the control or to the mometasone. Used separately or in combination, formoterol and mometasone increased the transition of C. albicans to hyphe form which may increase C. albicans pathogenesis. C. albicans growth and form changing may be due to the deregulation of the epithelial cell defense. Our results showed that the expression of TLR2 and 4 were down-regulated by formoterol as compared to mometasone. We also showed that single or combined molecules induced b-defensin-2 increase, but higher effect was obtained with mometasone. In conclusion: Our data show that CS and LABA promote in vitro C. albicans out growth and affect oral epithelial cell innate immunity (Study funded by the Fonds Emile-Beaulieu).