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Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Th17 Inflammation Model of Oropharyngeal Candidiasis in Immunodeficient Mice
Published on: February 18, 2015
Expression of alpha-defensin-1 in chronic hyperplastic candidosis
Ahmed Ali1, Sirkku Niissalo, Jarkko Hietanen
1Department of Anatomy/Biomedicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Background:
Chronic hyperplastic candidosis (CHC) represents a chronic opportunistic candida infection. We clarified the presence, localization and participation of alpha-defensin-1 in host response against chronic candidal stimulus.
Methods:
Immunohistochemically stained CHC biopsies (n = 10) were compared to candida negative idiopathic leukoplakia (n = 10).
Results:
In CHC alpha-defensin-1 was detected in neutrophils intravascularly, in lamina propria and in the epithelium, in part in intraepithelial microabscesses. Staining intensity of individual neutrophils varied and was associated with peri- and extracellular staining, in particular in the superficial epithelial cell layers. In controls only very few homogeneously staining neutrophils were detected intravascularly without any extracellular alpha-defensin-1 deposition.
Conclusions:
Neutrophils form microabscesses and respond to Candida by activation and release of alpha-defensin-1 to peri- and extracellular matrix. This together with the epithelial cell migration from the basal layer to epithelial surface leads to alpha-defensin-1 rich protective shield in the most superficial epithelial cell layers.
