DMBT1 involvement in induction of oral mucositis by Candida

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K10214
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57080:Social dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Kagoshima University
• Principal Investigator: Oho Takahiko 鹿児島大学, 医歯学総合研究科, 客員研究員 (50160940)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 長田 恵美 鹿児島大学, 医歯学域鹿児島大学病院, 講師 (00304816)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: カンジダ菌 / 口腔粘膜炎 / DMBT1

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Colonization of Candida albicans on the oral mucosa is established via the interaction between C. albicans adhesins and salivary proteins, forming a film on the oral mucosa. DMBT1 is an innate immune factor, and immobilized DMBT1 on oral mucosa causes microbial adherence. We investigated the binding of C. albicans to DMBT1 and isolated the fungal components responsible for the binding. Candida albicans specifically bound to DMBT1 and strongly bound to the peptide domain SRCRP2. Binding to SRCRP2 was inhibited by N-acetylneuraminic acid and mannose. Two components isolated had molecular mass of 25 and 29 kDa, and the latter was found to be phosphoglycerate mutase. The isolated components inhibited C. albicans binding to SRCRP2. The localization of these components on the surface of C. albicans cell walls was confirmed by immunostaining. The results suggest that the isolated components function as adhesins for the establishment of C. albicans cells on the oral mucosa by binding to DMBT1.

Free Research Field

予防歯科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

カンジダ菌は口腔粘膜炎の起因菌として知られているが、その口腔内定着における唾液タンパク質の関与は解明されていない。DMBT1は様々な機能を担う先天性免疫因子で、口腔粘膜を被覆する薄膜構成成分の１つである。今回、Candida albicansがDMBT1に結合することを認め、結合に関与する２つの菌体表層成分（25 kDaタンパク質およびphosphoglycerate mutase）を発見した。本結果は、C. albicansがこれらのアドヘジンとDMBT1との反応を介して口腔粘膜表面に定着をすることを示唆している。すなわちC. albicansの新たな口腔内定着機序を示したことに意義がある。