Secretory component mediates Candida albicans binding to epithelial cells

Area of Science:

• Oral Microbiology
• Immunology
• Adhesion Mechanisms

Background:

• Candida albicans adheres to oral surfaces through various mechanisms.
• Salivary components adsorbed to the yeast cell surface mediate adherence.
• Identifying these salivary molecules is crucial for understanding oral colonization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify specific salivary molecules involved in Candida albicans adherence.
• To investigate the role of salivary components in yeast cell binding to oral surfaces.

Main Methods:

• Detection and purification of salivary polypeptides bound by C. albicans using biotinylation, PAGE, and immunoblotting.
• Assessment of purified salivary components' ability to promote yeast cell adherence to epithelial monolayers.
• Analysis of secretory component's interaction with C. albicans and epithelial cells.

Main Results:

• Three salivary polypeptides bound by C. albicans were identified as secretory IgA components, including secretory component.
• Free secretory component in saliva was bound by yeast cells.
• Purified secretory component promoted C. albicans adherence to epithelial monolayers in a dose-dependent manner.

Conclusions:

• Secretory component, a component of secretory IgA, promotes Candida albicans binding to oral epithelial cells.
• Despite IgA's potential inhibitory effects, its components can facilitate yeast adherence.
• This highlights a complex role for salivary IgA in oral mucosal interactions with C. albicans.