Budoor Riyadh Ibrahim Al–Ameri
Department of Life Sciences, College of Science, Tikrit University
Hawazin Ahmed Abid
Department of Life Sciences, College of Science, Tikrit University
ABSTRACT
Background: Vaginal candidiasis (VC) is a common fungal infection primarily caused by Candida albicans, affecting a significant proportion of women worldwide. The immune response plays a crucial role in controlling fungal colonization, with interleukin-10 (IL-10) and Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) being key regulators of inflammation and host defense mechanisms. Objective: This study aims to analyze the variations in IL-10 and TLR2 immune responses in patients with vaginal candidiasis, assessing their potential role in susceptibility to infection and disease severity. Methods: A case-control study was conducted on vaginal swab samples collected from women diagnosed with vaginal candidiasis (n=50) and healthy controls (n=50). Molecular detection of Candida species was performed using PCR, while serum IL-10 and TLR2 expression levels were assessed using ELISA and RT-qPCR. Statistical analysis was conducted to determine correlations between cytokine expression, fungal load, and clinical severity of infection. Results: The findings revealed a significant decrease in IL-10 expression among infected patients (p < 0.05), suggesting a weakened anti-inflammatory response in vaginal candidiasis. Conversely, TLR2 expression was upregulated, indicating an enhanced innate immune activation against fungal invasion. A strong correlation was observed between TLR2 overexpression and severe symptomatic cases, highlighting its role in host-pathogen interactions. Conclusion: The study underscores the differential immune response of IL-10 and TLR2 in vaginal candidiasis, with TLR2 upregulation linked to increased disease severity and IL-10 downregulation associated with impaired immune modulation. These findings may contribute to developing targeted immunotherapeutic approaches for managing recurrent vaginal candidiasis.
Keywords: Cytokines, Interleukin-10, Types of Candida.
