Open AccessTrafficking ofCandida albicansthrough oral epithelial endocytic compartments
Author(s) -
Xiang Zhao,
Cristina Cunha Villar
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
medical mycology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.004
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1460-2709
pISSN - 1369-3786
DOI - 10.3109/13693786.2010.515622
Subject(s) - endocytic cycle , endosome , endocytosis , candida albicans , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , internalization , corpus albicans , cell , intracellular , biochemistry
Oral epithelial cells are the first cells that interact with C. albicans during the establishment of oropharyngeal candidiasis. Following initial adhesion, C. albicans invades oral epithelial cells by inducing its own endocytosis and gains access to epithelial vacuolar compartments. Epithelial endocytic pathways are key innate immune mechanisms in host defense. We examined the trafficking of C. albicans through oral epithelial endocytic compartments. We present evidence that C. albicans is internalized by oral epithelial cells through actin-dependent clathrin-mediated endocytosis and is taken into vacuolar compartments immediately following its internalization. C. albicans-containing endosomes transiently acquired early endosomal marker EEA1, but showed marked defects in acquisition of late endosomal marker LAMP1 and lysosomal marker cathepsin D. Defective endolysosomal maturation may partially explain the inability of oral epithelial cells to kill C. albicans.