RESUMO
We have previously demonstrated a genetic predisposition among mice regarding their ability to be protected against vaginal candidiasis after peripheral immunization. Both BALB/c and (BALB/cx C57BL/6) F1 mice are protected against vaginal candidiasis after subcutaneous immunization with Candida albicans extract and C57BL/6 mice are not protected by this immunization. In the present study, the ability of F1-derived immune cells to transfer protection to naive parental strains was observed in BALB/c recipient mice, but not apparent in B6 recipient mice. This result is highly suggestive that the microenvironment of the B6 mouse is responsible for the susceptible phenotype. Genetic studies using (BALB/cx C57BL/6)F1x C57BL/6 backcross mice demonstrated that two genes appeared to regulate the protective effect of peripheral immunization to vaginal challenge. Microsatellite mapping indicated that candidate loci involved in controlling the immune response to vaginal candidiasis after peripheral immunization included the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), the Icam-1 related sequence 1, and the Fc epsilon RII (P<0.01). Thus, the ability of cells to bind to vaginal endothelial cells may play an important role in protection against vaginal candidiasis mediated by peripheral immunization.
Assuntos
Antígenos de Fungos/imunologia , Candida albicans/imunologia , Candidíase Vulvovaginal/prevenção & controle , Quimiotaxia de Leucócito , Imunização/métodos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C/imunologia , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL/imunologia , Subpopulações de Linfócitos T/citologia , Vagina/imunologia , Animais , Antígenos de Fungos/administração & dosagem , Candidíase Vulvovaginal/imunologia , Cruzamentos Genéticos , Feminino , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Injeções Subcutâneas , Molécula 1 de Adesão Intercelular/genética , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C/genética , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL/genética , Repetições de Microssatélites , Mucosa/imunologia , Receptores de IgE/genética , Subpopulações de Linfócitos T/imunologiaRESUMO
In these studies, significant protection against experimental vaginal candidiasis after a subcutaneous immunization with Candida albicans extract was achieved in BALB/c mice but not in C57BL/6 (B6) mice. Protection from vaginal candidiasis was transferred to naive BALB/c mice by a population of spleen cells derived from immunized BALB/c mice. Removal of CD3 or CD4 but not CD8 T cells before transfer completely abrogated resistance to vaginal candidiasis. Recombinant inbred (RI) strains of mice derived from BALB/c and B6 strains were used for mapping loci that might be responsible for regulating vaginal protection after subcutaneous immunization. Linkage analysis using microsatellite-based genome mapping in these RI strains revealed four candidate loci on chromosomes 3, 7, 8, and 18 that exhibit statistically significant linkage to the strain distribution pattern. These results may contribute to the understanding of host genetic factors controlling the immune response to vaginal infections.