CX3CR1 Is Dispensable for Control of Mucosal Candida albicans Infections in Mice and Humans

Abstract

Candida albicansis part of the normal commensal microbiota of mucosal surfaces in a large percentage of the human population. However, perturbations of the host's immune response or bacterial microbiota have been shown to predispose individuals to the development of opportunisticCandidainfections. It was recently discovered that a defect in the chemokine receptor CX3CR1 increases susceptibility of mice and humans to systemic candidiasis. However, whether CX3CR1 confers protection against mucosalC. albicansinfection has not been investigated. Using two different mouse models, we found that Cx3cr1 is dispensable for the induction of interleukin 17A (IL-17A), IL-22, and IL-23 in the tongue after infection, as well as for the clearance of mucosal candidiasis from the tongue or lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract colonization. Furthermore, the dysfunctional human CX3CR1 alleleCX3CR1-M280was not associated with development of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) in women. Taken together, these data indicate that CX3CR1 is not essential for protection of the host against mucosal candidiasis, underscoring the dependence on different mammalian immune factors for control of mucosal versus systemicCandidainfections.