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Updated: Jan 24, 2026

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Candida albicans Detection in Catheter Infections Using Fluorescent Protein Tagging
Published on: March 22, 2024
Effects of Candida albicans infection on defense effector secretion by human oral mucosal epithelial cells
Fan Huang1, Yuefeng Song1, Wei Chen1
1Department of Oral Medicine, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Candida albicans on the production of defense effector molecules by human oral mucosal epithelial cells in vitro.
Design:
Immortalized human oral mucosal epithelial (Leuk-1) cells and C. albicans strain 5314 were cocultured at different cell-to-C. albicans ratios. The viability of Leuk-1 cells was determined by MTT and RTCA measurements. The secretory levels of multiple defense effector molecules were determined by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results:
Our results indicated that C. albicans significantly decreased the secretion of IgG, cystatin C, lactoferrin, and TGF-β1 in a dose-dependent manner and remarkably reduced the production of IgA independent of the cell-to-C. albicans ratio. However, C. albicans clearly enhanced the secretion of IgM, galectin-3, P-selectin, granzyme B and perforin.
Conclusion:
These results suggest that C. albicans may exert a regulatory role in the defense response of oral mucosal epithelial cells by altering secretory levels of defense effector molecules.
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