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II. Role of the Stratum Corneum Barrier and Serum Complement as a Mediator of a Protective Inflammatory Response

Thomas L. Ray, MD; Kirk D. Wuepper, MD

Arch Dermatol. 1978;114(4):539-543.

Abstract
• Of six species of Candida applied epicutaneously to rodents, only C albicans and C stellatoidea penetrate the stratum corneum and produce inflammation. The role of the stratum corneum in experimental murine Candida infections was studied, therefore, by intraepidermal injection of blastospores in mice that received a prior injection of staphylococcal epidermolysin. All six species caused accumulation of neutrophils if placed within an intraepidermal cleft in contact with viable epidermis.

The role of serum complement in cutaneous candidiasis was also studied in vivo in rodents depleted of complement with cobra venom factor or deficient in the fifth component of complement. These animals failed to develop neutrophilic inflammatory responses to the six Candida species tested in contrast to control animals. Candida albicans, C stellatoidea, and C tropicalis developed extensive hyphal proliferation with invasion of the entire cutis and subcutis in these animals.

The stratum corneum provides an effective barrier to some, but not all Candida species. When this barrier is penetrated, complement mediates an acute neutrophilic pustular response that restricts Candida proliferation and prevents deep invasion of tissue.

(Arch Dermatol 114:539-543, 1978)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, Portland, Ore.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication July 27, 1977.

Read in part before the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology, Atlantic City, NJ, May 1, 1976.

Reprint requests to Department of Dermatology, University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, 3181SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97201 (Dr Wuepper).

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