IL-8 signaling pathway in Candida albicans-infected gingival epithelial cells

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo

Objectives: Oral epithelial cells significantly influence host inflammatory responses against Candida albicans in oropharyngeal candidiasis. Pro-inflammatory cytokines function as an early innate immune system mediator during C. albicans infection in oral epithelial cells. We sought to elucidate the pattern of the molecular mechanisms governing the human gingival epithelial cells to C. albicans infection likely involve multiple converging signal transduction pathways. Methods: Primary human gingival epithelial cells (HGECs) were cultured with C. albicans ATCC90029. Total RNA was extracted after 8 hrs of infection and monitored mRNA levels using Affymetrix GeneChip (Human Genome U133 plus 2.0 Array, 48,000 genes). GeneChip data was analyzed by GeneSpring software and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis system (IPA) system. Results: IL-8, ICAM and Cox2 showed a greater than 2-fold change in expression relative to those in control cells. Altered mRNA levels in GeneChip analysis were confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time RT-PCR. Stronger immunoreactivity against ICAM and Cox2 was also observed in the infection with C. albicans by using an in vivo rat animal model. Conclusions: These findings indicate that IL-8 signaling pathway is involved in gingival epithelial cells in response to C. albicans.