Abstract: Objective To examine the expressions of stroma-derived factor 1 （SDF-1） and its receptor CXCR4 in murine vaginal tissue and lumbar lymph nodes during an experimental Candida albicans vaginal infection. Methods A murine model of vaginal candidiasis was established. Eighty female mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, 25 in group A （estrogen-treated mice inoculated with referrence C. albicans strain）, 25 in group B （estrogen-treated mice inoculated with phosphate buffered solution）, 25 in group C （untreated mice infected with C. albicans） and 5 untreated mice free of infection in the control group. The first 3 groups were equally divided into 5 subgroups, including 2-, 4-, 7-, 14- and 21-day groups. The mRNA and protein expression of SDF-1 and CXCR4 in the murine vaginal tissue and draining lumbar lymph nodes was assessed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively, 2, 4, 7, 14 and 21 days after the inoculation of C. albicans. Results No significant difference was observed in the mRNA expression of SDF-1 or CXCR4 between group B and the control group. Compared with group B, the mRNA level of SDF-1 in group A increased both in vaginal tissue from day 2 to 21 （F = 114.87, P < 0.01） and in lumbar lymph nodes on day 2, 7, 14 and 21; increased mRNA expression of CXCR4 was observed in vaginal tissue on day 14 （t = 15.61, P < 0.01） and lumbar lymph nodes from day 2 to 21 （F = 161.30, P < 0.01） in group A. In group C, the mRNA expression of SDF-1 significantly increased in vaginal tissue on day 2, 4 and 7 but remained unchanged in lumbar lymph tissues through the test period （P > 0.05）, and an significant increase was seen in mRNA expression of CXCR4 in vaginal tissue from day 4 to 21 and in lumbar lymph tissues on day 7 and 14 in comparison with the control group （all P < 0.05）. As immunohistochemistry showed, the expression levels of SDF-1 and CXCR4 in vaginal tissue of group A commenced to increase on day 2, reached a peak on day 7, then decreased on day 14 and 21 following the infeciton （P < 0.05）, but they were consistently higher than those of the control group through the study period. Conclusion An increase in mRNA and protein expressions of SDF-1 and CXCR4 is noticed in vaginal tissue and lumbar lymph nodes of C. albicans-infected mice.

Key words: Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal, Candida albicans, Stromal-derived factor 1, CXCR4