β-Defensin 1 plays a role in acute mucosal defense against Candida albicans.

ABSTRACT: Candida is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that colonizes the mucosal tract of humans. Pathogenic infection occurs in the presence of conditions causing perturbations to the commensal microbiota or host immunity. Early innate immune responses by the epithelium, including antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and cytokines, are critical for protection against overgrowth. Reduced salivary AMP levels are associated with oral Candida infection, and certain AMPs, including human β-defensins 1-3, have direct fungicidal activity. In this study, we demonstrate that murine β-defensin 1 (mBD1) is important for control of early mucosal Candida infection and plays a critical role in the induction of innate inflammatory mediators. Mice deficient in mBD1, as compared with wild-type mice, exhibit elevated oral

SUBMITTER: Tomalka J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4323878 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature