The Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol 24, Issue 2 151-155, Copyright © 1987 by Society for General Microbiology
Variations in affinity to Candida albicans in vitro among human buccal epithelial cells
R. L. Sandin, A. L. Rogers, M. I. Fernandez and E. S. Beneke
Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824.
Using an in-vitro adherence assay it was observed that the number of
Candida albicans cells that attached to individual buccal mucosal cells
varied greatly. Three mucosal-cell characteristics--state of aggregation,
size and viability--that might influence yeast adhesion in vitro were
studied. The number of attached yeast cells per mucosal cell varied from 0
to 32. The majority of buccal cells (88%) had none or very few yeasts
attached, whereas a minority of cells (12%) bound more than one half of all
the attached yeasts. In donors whose buccal cells had large numbers of
attached yeasts this percentage increased and the number of cells with no
attached yeast cells fell. Cells of an intermediate size (36-70 micron) had
a greater affinity for yeasts than did cells of other sizes. Buccal cell
viability appeared not to be necessary for adhesion of yeasts. No
significant differences were observed in the number of yeast cells attached
to single buccal cells compared with attachment to buccal cells within
sheets. It would appear, therefore, that there are distinct subpopulations
of epithelial cells with high and low affinity for attachment by C.
albicans in vitro. Mucosal cell size or viability might influence this
affinity.
