Tissue-associated cytokine expression in HIV-positive persons with oropharyngeal candidiasis.

Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC), caused by Candida albicans, is the most common infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive persons. Although CD4(+) T cells are considered to be important for host defense against C. albicans at the oral mucosa, a recent immunohistochemical evaluation of T cells in OPC lesions of HIV-positive persons with reduced CD4(+) T cells showed high numbers of CD8(+) T cells.