Synergistic exacerbation of oral mucositis caused by IL-23 deficiency and oral <i>Candida albicans</i> exposure.

ABSTRACT: Targeted head and neck irradiation (HNI) used for cancer therapy causes mucosal damage and immune dysregulation, leaving cancer patients highly susceptible to infections of the oral mucosa. Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) is an opportunistic infection caused by Candida albicans, a commensal fungus found in up to 80% of the population at any given time. High colonization levels of C. albicans are known to worsen damage caused by HNI. The interleukin-23 (IL-23)-T-helper 17 (Th17) axis is a central and non-redundant mediator of immunity to OPC, and anti-cytokine biologics targeting IL-23 have come into widespread clinical use for treating various autoimmune conditions. Here, we sought to understand the consequences of IL-23 deficiency in the setting of HNI, taking advantage of a

SUBMITTER: Dillon JT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12506028 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature