Abstract: Objective To investigate the role of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1) and its receptor CC chemokine receptor 2(CCR2)in vaginal infection with Candida albicans by detecting their expression in a murine model with experimental vaginal candidiasis.Methods A murine model of vaginal candidiasis was established.Mice infected with Candida albicans,and the non-infected control animals,were treated with estrogen.The expression of MCP-1 and CCR2 in the murine vaginal tissue and draining lumbar lymph nodes was assessed by RT-PCR and ELISA.Results Estrogen had no significant effect on the expression of MCP-1 or CCR2.Compared with the basal level of control mice,the protein and mRNA expression of MCP-1 as well as the CCR2 mRNA expression were significantly increased in the vaginal tissue of infected mice,while the protein and mRNA expression of MCP-1 in the draining lumbar lymph nodes of infected mice remained unchanged.A significant increase in the mRNA expression of CCR2 was observed in estrogen-treated infected mice at day 7,14 and 21 after the inoculation.Conclusion MCP-1 and its receptor CCR2 may play a role in the local vaginal mucosal response to C.albicans.

Key words: Receptors,chemokine, Candidiasis,vulvovaginal, Candida albicans, Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1