Innate Immunity and Saliva in Candida albicans–mediated Oral Diseases

The oral cavity is a unique niche where Candida albicans infections occur in immunocompetent as well as immunosuppressed individuals. Here we critically review the significance of human innate immune response in preventing oral candidiasis. One important line of defense against oropharyngeal candidi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Dental Research 2016-04, Vol.95 (4), p.365-371
Main Authors: Salvatori, O., Puri, S., Tati, S., Edgerton, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibiotics
Bacteria
Biofilms
Candida albicans
Candida albicans - immunology
Candidiasis
Candidiasis, Oral - immunology
Candidiasis, Oral - prevention & control
Cell activation
Cytokines
Dentistry
Dysbacteriosis
Fungicidal activity
Gene expression
Humans
Immune response
Immunity, Innate - immunology
Infections
Inflammation
Innate immunity
Microbiota
Microbiota - immunology
Microorganisms
Mouth
Mouth Mucosa - immunology
Mucosa
Nutrients
Oral cavity
Oral diseases
Proteins
Reviews
Saliva
Saliva - immunology
Salivary Proteins and Peptides - immunology
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Summary:The oral cavity is a unique niche where Candida albicans infections occur in immunocompetent as well as immunosuppressed individuals. Here we critically review the significance of human innate immune response in preventing oral candidiasis. One important line of defense against oropharyngeal candidiasis is the oral microbiota that prevents infection by competing for space and nutrients as well as by secreting antagonistic molecules and triggering local inflammatory responses. C. albicans is able to induce mucosal defenses through activation of immune cells and production of cytokines. Also, saliva contains various proteins that affect C. albicans growth positively by promoting mucosal adherence and negatively through immune exclusion and direct fungicidal activity. We further discuss the role of saliva in unifying host innate immune defenses against C. albicans as a communicating medium and how C. albicans overgrowth in the oral cavity may be a result of aberrations ranging from microbial dysbiosis and salivary dysfunction to epithelial damage. Last we underscore select oral diseases in which C. albicans is a contributory microorganism in immune-competent individuals.
ISSN:0022-0345
1544-0591
DOI:10.1177/0022034515625222