Mannose-Binding Lectin Gene Polymorphism and Its Association with Susceptibility to Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

Abstract

Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) is a common illness influencing childbearing women worldwide. Most women suffering from RVVC develop infection without specified risk factors. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is an important component of innate immune defense against Candida infection. Innate immunity gene mutations and polymorphisms have been suggested to play a role in susceptibility to RVVC. This study aimed to investigate the association between MBL 2 gene exon 1 codon 54 polymorphism and susceptibility to RVVC in childbearing women. Whole blood and serum samples were obtained from 59 RVVC cases and 59 controls. MBL serum level was measured by enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA). MBL2 exon 1 codon 54 polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). It was shown that MBL serum level was nonsignificantly different between RVVC cases and controls. The risk of RVVC was 3 times higher in those carrying MBL2 exon 1 codon 54 variant allele (B). It could be concluded that the carrying of MBL2 exon 1 codon 54 variant allele (B) was shown to be a risk factor for RVVC in childbearing women.

Randomised clinical trial in women with Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis: Efficacy of probiotics and lactoferrin as maintenance treatment

“…Generally, several factors have been shown to contribute to the acquisition and/or induction of a symptomatic recurrence or chronicity of vulvar candidiasis . These include intestinal reservoir, persistent vaginal yeasts, sexual transmission, reduced protective vaginal factors, acquired acute hypersensitivity reaction and host genetic susceptibility . Most existing regimens in use for recurrent or chronic fungal vulvovaginal infections are empirical and not evidence based .…”

“…11 International guidelines for the treatment of RVVC are reduced protective vaginal factors, 29 acquired acute hypersensitivity reaction 30 and host genetic susceptibility. 31,32 Most existing regimens in use for recurrent or chronic fungal vulvovaginal infections are empirical and not evidence based. 33 Principles of therapy include induction therapy, followed by a maintenance therapy for 6 months.…”

Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis: An Immunological Perspective

“…According to epidemiological data and multi-ethnic cohort studies, increased susceptibility to RVVC rates correlates with genetic polymorphisms as well as ethnicity. For instance, carriage of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in exon 1 codon 54 in the mannose-binding lectin 2 (MBL2) gene is reported to be more frequent in RVVC patients than healthy women, and this association has also been revealed in Brazilian, European, Chinese and Egyptian, but not Italian women [32][33][34][35][36]. In addition, clinical reports showed that African Americans are more prone to fungal infections in comparison to European or Hispanic women, thus suggesting a variation in frequency among ethnic groups [37,38].…”

A meta-analysis of mannose-binding lectin gene polymorphisms with the risk of recurrent vulvovaginal infections

“…www.nature.com/scientificreports www.nature.com/scientificreports/ Association between MBL2 rs1800450 polymorphism and RVVC. Seven studies 8,9,[17][18][19]21,22 reported enough data (including 577 controls and 428 RVVC cases) for the pooled analysis of MBL2 rs1800450 www.nature.com/scientificreports www.nature.com/scientificreports/ polymorphism and RVVC risk. Homogeneity between studies was observed in homozygous and recessive genetic models (Table S6).…”

“…Thus, by considering the importance of gene in view, studies have examined the possible association between MBL2 polymorphisms in susceptibility to (R)VVI in different populations [8][9][10][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] . Nevertheless, owing to ethnic diversity and underpowered study design, the conclusions provided by these reports are still controversial, demanding further in-depth investigation to establish the relationship between the two.…”