阴道生态系统是一个独特的环境,在生理条件下,乳酸杆菌占主导地位。然而,导致阴道炎和阴道病的病原微生物也可以携带阴道微生物群。为了扩展我们以前发布的数据,我们在这里分析了阴道凝胶制剂的抗念珠菌和抗炎特性,Respecta®平衡凝胶(RBG),商业化作为佐剂治疗阴道炎和阴道病。我们通过体外模型评估了其活性,其中在RBG或安慰剂制剂(pRBG)存在下,白色念珠菌感染了单层A-431阴道上皮细胞。具体来说,我们测试了RBG抵抗白色念珠菌毒力因子的能力及其抗炎特性。我们的研究结果表明,与安慰剂不同,RBG降低白色念珠菌的附着力,其形成菌丝的能力和白色念珠菌引起的阴道细胞损伤。有趣的是,RBG和pRBG均可减少LPS诱导的IL-8分泌(其中RBG最有效),证明安慰剂也保留了抗炎特性。从我们的实验方法来看,我们强调了法尼醇对这种作用的可能作用,但我们要指出的是乳酸,聚葡萄糖和糖原在实际应用中也必须相关。总之,我们的结果表明,RBG损害白色念珠菌的毒力,并能够减少阴道环境中的炎症,最终允许建立一个平衡的阴道生态系统。
Vaginal ecosystem is a unique environment where, in physiological conditions, lactobacilli dominate. However, pathogenic microbial species responsible for vaginitis and vaginosis can also harbor vaginal microbiota. To extend our previously published data, we analyzed here both the anti-Candida and anti-inflammatory properties of the vaginal gel formulation, Respecta® Balance Gel (RBG), commercialized as an adjuvant to treat vaginitis and vaginosis. We evaluated its activity by an in vitro model where a monolayer of A-431 vaginal epithelial cells was infected by Candida albicans in the presence of RBG or the placebo formulation (pRBG). Specifically, we tested the RBG capacity to counteract C. albicans virulence factors and their anti-inflammatory properties. Our results show that, unlike the placebo, RBG reduces C. albicans adhesion, its capacity to form hyphae and C. albicans-induced vaginal cell damage. Interestingly, both RBG and pRBG reduce LPS-induced IL-8 secretion (with RBG being the most effective), demonstrating that also the placebo retains anti-inflammatory properties. From our experimental approach, we highlighted the possible role of farnesol on such effects, but we would like to point out that lactic acid, polydextrose and glycogen too must be relevant in the actual application. In summary, our results show that RBG impairs C. albicans virulence and is able to reduce the inflammation in the vaginal environment, ultimately allowing the establishment of a balanced vaginal ecosystem.