Human oral keratinocytes: a model system to analyze host-pathogen interactions

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Cell Biology
• Immunology

Background:

• Host-pathogen interactions are crucial in determining infection outcomes.
• Fungal infections, particularly Candida albicans, pose significant clinical challenges, especially in vulnerable patients.
• Understanding host responses is key to combating these infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish and describe an in vitro assay for studying human oral keratinocyte responses to Candida albicans.
• To characterize dynamic cellular changes during host-fungal interactions.
• To identify potential drug targets for treating fungal infections.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an in vitro model with human oral keratinocytes (OKF6/TERT-2).
• Introduced the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans to the cell culture.
• Employed epifluorescence deconvolution microscopy to monitor cellular changes and differentiation markers.
• Analyzed immunofluorescence data using linescan analysis and fluorescence intensity measurements to quantify protein expression.

Main Results:

• Successfully characterized the dynamic cellular responses of oral keratinocytes to Candida albicans.
• Quantified changes in protein expression levels indicative of host cell reaction.
• Demonstrated the utility of the in vitro model for studying host-pathogen dynamics.

Conclusions:

• The developed in vitro model provides valuable insights into host cell behavior during Candida albicans infection.
• This model system can advance the understanding of fungal pathogenesis.
• The findings pave the way for identifying novel therapeutic strategies and drug targets.