523 Iron excretion through the epidermis influences host defense against C. albicans

Iron is an essential nutrient that functions as a cofactor for cellular enzymatic redox reactions. Hosts and pathogens compete over iron survival. Previous studies have implicated the skin unique site homeostasis major contributing source to excretion from body: Primary human keratinocytes store ferritin function of exogenous addition, with modulation their differentiation. Wildtype mice subjected systemic bolus or chelation demonstrate changes in total epidermal elemental content. We hypothesized stores influence both levels could affect cutaneous pathogen To test this, C57Bl6J were treated one-time (1mg/kg intraperitoneal) chelator desferrioxamine (300 mg/kg then epidermis microbial survival on was evaluated. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) performed dispase-split mouse identified significant content by these interventions (p < 0.0001). After topical challenge C.albicans, animals overload had decreased C. albicans CFUs = 0.0014) consistent clinical observation C.albicans-associated angular cheilitis patients deficiency. However, no difference observed S. aureus after manipulation. These findings suggest turnover may be regulated mechanism matches behavior levels, physiologic implications some infections.