Lactoferrin in Saliva Helps Control Candida

To examine the local regulation of oral Candida albicans growth, we examined non-stimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates (SFRs) and the C. albicans growth and adhesion inhibitory activities of saliva in 60 patients with oral candidiasis (divided into two groups: 25 patients with oral candidiasis only (group OC) and 35 patients with oral candidiasis and systemic diseases (group CS)) and 30 healthy control subjects. Both non-stimulated and stimulated SFRs in patients, especially in group CS; were decreased in comparison with those in the healthy control subjects. The levels of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in group OC and group CS and the lactoferrin level in group CS were decreased as compared with those in control individuals, although there were no differences in transferrin and total secretory component (SC) levels between the three groups. The secretion amounts (microg/min) of these proteins were statistically significantly decreased in the patients, especially in group CS. Saliva from the patients showed a lesser inhibitory effect on C. albicans growth and adhesion to HeLa cells than did saliva from the control subjects. In addition, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in patients' saliva generated smaller amounts of superoxide than did those in control subjects' saliva, and phagocytic and C. albicans killing activities were suppressed in the patients. These results indicate that the decreases in SFR, secretion of antimicrobial proteins in saliva, and salivary PMN activity are risk factors for oral candidiasis associated with aging and systemic diseases.