Abstract
Candida albicans is the most pathogenic fungal species, commonly colonizing on human mucosal surfaces. As a polymorphic species, C. albicans is capable of switching between yeast and hyphal forms, causing an array of mucosal and disseminated infections with high mortality. While the yeast form is most commonly associated with systemic disease, the hyphae are more adept at adhering to and penetrating host tissue and are therefore frequently observed in mucosal fungal infections, most commonly oral candidiasis. The formation of a saliva-derived protein pellicle on the mucosa surface can provide protection against C. albicans on oral epithelial cells, and narrow information is available on the mucosal pellicle composition. Histatins are one of the most abundant salivary proteins and presents antifungal and antibacterial activities against many species of the oral microbiota, however, its presence has never been studied in oral mucosa pellicle. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of histatin 5 to protect the Human Oral Epithelium against C. albicans adhesion. Human Oral Epithelial Tissues (HOET) were incubated with PBS containing histatin 5 for 2 h, followed by incubation with C. albicans for 1 h at 37°C. The tissues were then washed several times in PBS, transferred to fresh RPMI and incubated for 16 h at 37°C at 5% CO2. HOET were then prepared for histopathological analysis using light microscopy. In addition, the TUNEL assay was employed to evaluate the apoptosis of epithelial cells using fluorescent microscopy. HOET pre-incubated with histatin 5 showed a lower rate of C. albicans growth and cell apoptosis when compared to the control groups (HOET alone and HOET incubated with C. albicans). The data suggest that the coating with histatin 5 is able to reduce C. albicans colonization on epithelial cell surfaces and also protect the basal cell layers from undergoing apoptosis.
Highlights
Removable dentures provide edentulous patients with the rehabilitation of masticatory and esthetic functions (Dhir et al, 2007); one consequence of the continual use of dentures is the adhesion of microorganisms and biofilm formation (Lazarin et al, 2014)
The formation of a saliva-derived protein pellicle on the mucosa surface can provide protection against the colonization and invasion of Candida albicans on oral epithelial cells, which leads to candidiasis
Narrow information is available on the mucosal pellicle composition, and few studies have reported the presence of salivary proteins such as mucins, cystatins, IgA, amylase, and statherin (Bradway et al, 1992; Gibbins et al, 2013) on the oral epithelial cell
Summary
Removable dentures provide edentulous patients with the rehabilitation of masticatory and esthetic functions (Dhir et al, 2007); one consequence of the continual use of dentures is the adhesion of microorganisms and biofilm formation (Lazarin et al, 2014). Histatin 5 oral mucosal pellicle associated with candidiasis (Gomes et al, 2011; Hahnel et al, 2012; Lazarin et al, 2014) These biofilms are extremely resistant to antimicrobial agents compared to planktonic microorganisms due to the presence of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) generated by microorganisms themselves, which acts as an impervious and protective covering of biofilms. They are resistant to the action of most of the available antifungal substances, but they resist the phagocytic action of our immune cells (Chandra et al, 2001b). The formation of a saliva-derived protein pellicle on the mucosa surface can provide protection against the colonization and invasion of Candida albicans on oral epithelial cells, which leads to candidiasis. Narrow information is available on the mucosal pellicle composition, and few studies have reported the presence of salivary proteins such as mucins, cystatins, IgA, amylase, and statherin (Bradway et al, 1992; Gibbins et al, 2013) on the oral epithelial cell
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