Activation of CD4+CD25+CD45+ T-lymphocytes by Candida albicans in vitro in patients with leukoplakia associated with candidal stomatitis

Karpuk N.A., Rubnikovich S.P., Ishchanka A.U.

Vitebsk State Medical University, Vitebsk, Belarus
Belarusian State Medical University, Minsk, Belarus

The mechanisms and patterns of T-lymphocyte activation in response to the effects of Candida albicans are currently insufficiently studied. Therefore, the study of of lymphocytes expressing CD4, CD25, CD45 against the background of precancer and cancer of the oral mucosa is very relevant.
The purpose of the study was to study the in vitro effect of Candida albicans on the expression of CD4+CD25+CD45+ T-lymphocytes in the blood of patients with candidal stomatitis with and without leukoplakia.
Material and methods. The study involved 93 patients with candidal stomatitis (with and without leukoplakia) aged from 36 to 79 years with chronic and recurrent candidiasis. 30 patients with leukoplakia without candidal stomatitis aged from 38 to 71 years old. The control group consisted of 30 patients aged from 34 to 75 years without candidal stomatitis and leukoplakia. Leukocytes from peripheral blood patients were incubated for 24 hours at 37°C with 2.5 μl of Candida albicans (experimental sample) and with 2.5 μl of buffered saline (control sample). The cells were then phenotyped with CD4+CD25+CD45+ monoclonal antibodies.
Conclusions. In the control sample, CD25 expression was higher in the groups of patients with candidiasis (with and without leukoplakia). The expression of activation markers – CD25+-increased on patient lymphocytes in the experimental sample. There were more activated T lymphocytes in response to stimulation by fungi of the genus Candida albicans (p<0.05), compared to lymphocytes in the control sample. The main increase was observed in the group of patients with leukoplakia, candidal stomatitis and endothelial dysplasia, in which Treg lymphocytes were determined. These data confirm the presence of a pronounced response of CD4+ T lymphocytes to fungi of the genus Candida albicans in patients with candidal stomatitis.