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Updated: May 29, 2026

Th17 Inflammation Model of Oropharyngeal Candidiasis in Immunodeficient Mice
Published on: February 18, 2015
CD8 T cells and E-cadherin in host responses against oropharyngeal candidiasis
K Quimby1, E A Lilly, M Zacharek
1Department of Oral and Craniofacial Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences, Center School of Dentistry, New Orleans, LA, USA.
Background:
Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) is the most common oral infection in HIV(+) persons. Previous studies suggest a role for CD8(+) T cells against OPC when CD4(+) T cells are lost, but enhanced susceptibility to infection occurs when CD8(+) T-cell migration is inhibited by reduced tissue E-cadherin.
Objective:
To conduct a longitudinal study of tissue CD8(+) T-cells and E-cadherin expression before, during, and after the episodes of OPC.
Methods:
Oral fungal burden was monitored and tissue was evaluated for CD8(+) T cells and E-cadherin over a 1-year period in HIV(+) persons with a history of, or an acute episode of, OPC.
Results:
While longitudinal analyses precluded formal interpretations, point prevalence analyses of the data set revealed that when patients experiencing OPC were successfully treated, tissue E-cadherin expression was similar to that in patients who had not experienced OPC, and higher numbers of CD8(+) T cells were distributed throughout OPC(-) tissue under normal expression of E-cadherin.
Conclusion:
These results suggest that (1) reduction in tissue E-cadherin expression in patients with OPC(+) is not permanent, and (2) high numbers of CD8(+) T cells can be distributed throughout OPC(-) tissue under normal E-cadherin expression. Together, these results extend our previous studies and continue to support a role for CD8(+) T cells in host defense against OPC.
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