Salivary human beta‐defensins affected by oral Candida status in Chinese HIV / AIDS patients undergoing ART

Objectives To observe relationships between oral Candida status and salivary human beta‐defensin 2 and 3 ( hBD ‐2 and hBD ‐3) levels in HIV / AIDS patients of Guangxi, China during the first year of antiretroviral therapy ( ART ) dynamically, and to understand the influence of ART on oral Candida status and salivary hBD s expressions. Methods A prospective self‐controlled study was carried to observe the dynamic changes of CD 4 + T cell counts, oral Candida carriages and salivary hBD ‐2,3 expressions in HIV / AIDS patients during the first year of ART . A total of 90 HIV / AIDS patients were enrolled and were examined at the baseline, 3rd, 6th, 12th month of ART . Thirty healthy individuals were enrolled as control. Peripheral blood, oral rinse sample, and unstimulated whole saliva were collected to test CD 4 + T cell counts, oral Candida carriages, and hBD ‐2,3 expressions. Results In the first year of ART , CD 4 + T cell counts increased significantly. However, oral Candida carriages and oral candidiasis decreased significantly, and salivary hBD ‐2 expressions in HIV / AIDS patients decreased gradually, salivary hBD ‐3 levels were highly variable. Salivary hBD ‐2 concentrations were positively related to oral Candida carriages. Conclusions The incidence of oral candidiasis among HIV / AIDS patients gradually decreased due to the immune reconstruction of ART . Salivary defensins might play an important role in Candida ‐host interaction in HIV / AIDS patients.