TY - JOUR
T1 - Mannose binding lectin and C3 act as recognition molecules for infectious agents in the vagina
AU - Pellis, V
AU - De Seta, F
AU - Crovella, S
AU - Bossi, F
AU - Bulla, R
AU - Guaschino, S
AU - Radillo, O
AU - Garred, P
AU - Tedesco, F
PY - 2005/1
Y1 - 2005/1
N2 - In our study we examined the early complement components in patients with bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and in healthy controls. The levels of C1q, mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and C3 were measured by ELISA in the cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) from gynaecological patients and controls. No significant differences were observed in the levels of these proteins in the three study groups. Immunofluorescence analysis of the clue cells and Candida hyphae from BV and VVC patients for surface-bound complement components showed the presence of C3, while C1q was undetectable. MBL was revealed on clue cells but not on Candida. Binding of MBL to Candida, grown or cytocentrifuged from the CVL of VVC patients, was found to be pH dependent and occurred between pH 4.5 and pH 5.5. In conclusion, we demonstrated that MBL and C3 present in the vaginal cavity act as recognition molecules for infectious agents that colonize the cervicovaginal mucosa. Our finding that MBL, but not C1q, binds to bacteria and fungi in vagina suggests that the lectin and classical pathways of complement activation may play a different role in immune defence in the female genital tract.
AB - In our study we examined the early complement components in patients with bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and in healthy controls. The levels of C1q, mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and C3 were measured by ELISA in the cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) from gynaecological patients and controls. No significant differences were observed in the levels of these proteins in the three study groups. Immunofluorescence analysis of the clue cells and Candida hyphae from BV and VVC patients for surface-bound complement components showed the presence of C3, while C1q was undetectable. MBL was revealed on clue cells but not on Candida. Binding of MBL to Candida, grown or cytocentrifuged from the CVL of VVC patients, was found to be pH dependent and occurred between pH 4.5 and pH 5.5. In conclusion, we demonstrated that MBL and C3 present in the vaginal cavity act as recognition molecules for infectious agents that colonize the cervicovaginal mucosa. Our finding that MBL, but not C1q, binds to bacteria and fungi in vagina suggests that the lectin and classical pathways of complement activation may play a different role in immune defence in the female genital tract.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Adult
KW - Body Fluids/immunology
KW - Candida albicans/isolation & purification
KW - Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal/immunology
KW - Complement C1q/analysis
KW - Complement C3/analysis
KW - Female
KW - Fluorescent Antibody Technique/methods
KW - Humans
KW - Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
KW - Mannose-Binding Lectin/analysis
KW - Therapeutic Irrigation
KW - Vagina/microbiology
KW - Vaginosis, Bacterial/immunology
U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2005.02660.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2005.02660.x
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 15606621
SN - 0009-9104
VL - 139
SP - 120
EP - 126
JO - Clinical and Experimental Immunology
JF - Clinical and Experimental Immunology
IS - 1
ER -