Figure. The central role of oral mucosal epithelial cell cytokines in the induction of protective immunity in oropharyngeal candidiasis. Oral epithelial cells are stimulated by Candida to produce an array of pro-inflammatory cytokines with phagocytic cell-activating potential. Immune regulatory cytokines may also trigger the generation of a long-lasting adaptive immune response (Th1) or the activation of CD8⁺ effector cells.