Objective: To further investigate pathogenesis about vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC).
Methods: Human normal vaginal epithelial cells in vitro were cultured by tissue culture and keratinocyto serum free medium. Passaging epithelial cells were cocultured with candida albicans medium in separate wells for 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. Control epithelial cells were cultured alone in separate wells. For examination of cytokines and chemokines, at each time point, the coculture supernatant and the control culture were collected. ELISA was applied to detect the levels of HBDj1, HBDj2 and SPjA protein expression in the vaginal epithelial cells (HBD-1:F=62.784ìP=0.001; HBD-2: F=5127.984, P=0.000; F=542.210, P=0.000). Also, we collected the vaginal doughing water of VVC patients and healthy women, and detected the levels of SP-A, then analysed the data.
Results: In the trail of human vaginal epithelial cells, in contrast to the control group, the medium group induced the epithelial cells to secrete more HBD-1, HBD-2 and SP-A at h48, which was considered to be significant (P<0.05). In the trail of human vaginal doughing water, in contrast to the control group, the levels of SP-A of VVC group were higher, which was considered to be significant (P<0.05). The levels of SP-A of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) group were higher than those of VVC group and control group.
Conclusion: Human vaginal epithelial cells function as congenital anti-Candida albicans and can secrete HBD-1, HBD-2 and SP-A. When infected by Candida albicans, human vaginal epithelial cells can secrete HBD-1, HBD-2 and SP-A The levels of SP-A of RVVC patients are probably higher than those of VVC patients.