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Skin surface lipids inhibit adherence of Candida albicans to stratum corneum
1Department of Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.
Background:
Candida albicans (CA) infections represent a significant threat to the health of immunocompromised individuals. The initial step in the establishment of a CA infection is adherence of the organism to an epithelial surface.
Methods:
An in vitro model for studies on adherence of CA to keratinized surfaces has been developed and used to test the hypothesis that specific lipids can modulate adherence of this organism. Porcine stratum corneum (SC) disks were incubated with candidal suspensions, after which unattached cells were washed away. Adherent cells were stained and counted using light microscopy.
Results:
Attachment of three pathogenic CA isolates was significantly greater than attachment of commensal strains of either CA or Candida parapsilosis. Removal of lipid from the SC lead to a doubling of the number of adherent organisms, whereas additional skin lipid inhibited adherence. Squalene, wax esters, cholesterol esters and triglycerides had no effect on adherence, but fatty acids, sterols and ceramides inhibited adherence significantly.
Conclusions:
Specific epithelial lipids can modulate adherence of CA to keratinized epithelial surfaces.