CPAF, HSP60 and MOMP antigens elicit pro-inflammatory cytokines production in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells from genital Chlamydia trachomatis-infected patients

Cheong HC 1 , Lee CYQ 1 , Cheok YY 1 , Shankar EM 2 , Sabet NS 3 , Tan GMY 1 Show all authors , Movahed E 1 , Yeow TC 1 , Sulaiman S 4 , Wong WF 5 , Looi CY 6 , Gupta R 7 , Hassan J 4 , Arulanandam B 7 , AbuBakar S 8

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 2 Division of Infection Biology, Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic & Applied Sciences, Central University of Tamil Nadu, 610005 Thiruvarur, India
  • 3 Faculty of Medicine, SEGi University, 47810 Kota Damansara, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 4 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 5 Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: wonfen@um.edu.my
  • 6 School of Bioscience, Taylor's University, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 7 Center of Excellence in Infection Genomics, South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio, 78249 Texas, USA
  • 8 Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Tropical Infectious Disease Research and Education Center, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Immunobiology, 2019 01;224(1):34-41.
PMID: 30477893 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2018.10.010

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Persistent inflammation caused by Chlamydia trachomatis in the female genital compartment represents one of the major causes of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy and infertility in females. Here, we examined the pro-inflammatory cytokine response following stimulation with three different types of C. trachomatis antigens, viz. chlamydial protease-like factor (CPAF), heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) and major outer membrane protein (MOMP).

METHODS: A total of 19 patients with genital C. trachomatis infection and 10 age-matched healthy controls were recruited for the study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from genital C. trachomatis-infected females were cultured in the presence of CPAF, HSP60 and MOMP antigens, and cytokines were measured by ELISA assay.

RESULTS: We reported that pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) were robustly secreted following antigenic exposure. Notably, CPAP and MOMP were more potent in triggering IL-1β, as compared to HSP60. Elevated levels of the proinflammatory cytokines were also noted in the samples infected with plasmid-bearing C. trachomatis as compared to those infected with plasmid-free strains.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights distinct ability of chlamydial antigens in triggering pro-inflammatory response in the host immune cells.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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