Polymorphism in innate immunity genes and susceptibility to recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis

摘要

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (WC) is a clinical syndrome due to a vaginal yeast infection with a Candida species (mostly C. albicans), characterized by itching, soreness, bright red rash, and heavy white vaginal discharge, causing a strong discomfort in patients. Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RWC) is defined as the occurrence of at least three episodes per year. Predisposing factors such as pregnancy, the use of antibiotics, contraceptive pills or hormone replacement treatment and diabetes mellitus have been reported to contribute to the susceptibility for RWC. Nevertheless, in most patients suffering from this debilitating disease, none of these risk factors are present. Therefore, it is believed that genetic predisposition may also play a significant role for the susceptibility to RWC. The present review summarizes the current knowledge concerning the gene polymorphisms that have been associated with RWC. Several components of the innate immune system related to the recognition of C. albicans (manose binding lectin, Dectin-1), or the induction of inflammation (the cytokine interleukin-4, the NLRP3 component of the inflammasome) have recently been shown to influence susceptibility to RWC. However, further studies are warranted in order to understand more thoroughly the spectrum of genetic variation inducing genetic susceptibility to RWC in otherwise healthy patients.