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Failure of nitric oxide production by macrophages and decrease in CD4+ T cells in oral paracoccidioidomycosis:

Aline Carvalho Batista1, Cleverson Teixeira Soares, Vanessa Soares Lara

  • 1Department of Stomatology (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.

Revista Do Instituto De Medicina Tropical De Sao Paulo
|November 23, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Oral Paracoccidioidomycosis (OP) lesions show low expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and fewer CD4+ T cells. These immune factors may allow the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis to multiply, leading to persistent oral lesions.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Mycology
  • Oral Pathology

Background:

  • Paracoccidioidomycosis is a chronic granulomatous disease with specific immune responses.
  • Nitric oxide (NO), produced by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), is a known fungicidal molecule against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.
  • Oral Paracoccidioidomycosis (OP) requires further characterization of its inflammatory and immune milieu.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the immunohistochemical expression of iNOS and immune cell markers in oral lesions of Paracoccidioidomycosis.
  • To correlate the presence of these markers with fungal load in oral tissues.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemical analysis of iNOS, CD45RO, CD3, CD8, CD20, CD68, and mast cells in oral tissue samples.
  • Categorization of samples based on viable fungal counts per mm².
  • Comparison of marker expression between OP lesions and healthy oral tissue controls.

Main Results:

  • Weak immunolabeling for iNOS was observed in multinucleated giant cells (MNGC) and mononuclear (MN) cells in OP lesions.
  • The proportion of iNOS+ MN/MNGC cells in OP was comparable to controls.
  • Numbers of CD4+ T cells were similar in controls and OP groups with higher fungal loads.

Conclusions:

  • Low iNOS expression in OP lesions may impair the host's ability to control fungal growth.
  • A decrease in CD4+ T cells in OP could contribute to the persistence of oral lesions.
  • These findings suggest potential immune evasion mechanisms by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in the oral cavity.

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