Inflammatory- and immune responses in relation to bacterial replication in mice following re-infections with Chlamydophila pneumoniae

• Published in: Inflammation research 2008-06, Vol.57 (6), p.287-295
• Main Authors: Kis, Z, Burian, K, Treso, B, Acs, K, Prohaszka, Z, Fust, G, Gonczol, E, Endresz, V
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allergology; Animals; Bacteria; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Blood; C. pneumoniae; Cell culture; Chlamydophila Infections - immunology; Chlamydophila Infections - physiopathology; Chlamydophila pneumoniae; Chlamydophila pneumoniae - genetics; Chlamydophila pneumoniae - immunology; Chlamydophila pneumoniae - physiology; Chronic infection; Dermatology; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Female; gamma -Interferon; Heat shock proteins; Histamine; Histamine - immunology; Immune response; Immunity (cell-mediated); Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Immunology; Inoculation; Interferon-gamma - immunology; Interleukin 6; Interleukin-6 - immunology; Lung; Lung - immunology; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Neurology; Persistent infection; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Polymerase chain reaction; Re-infections; Replication; Rheumatology; Spleen - immunology; Splenocytes
• ISSN: 1023-3830; 1420-908X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00011-007-7124-0

Objective: Investigation of chronic infections with Chlamydophila pneumoniae. Methods: BALB/c mice were repeatedly infected with C. pneumoniae and tested during a 1-year period. Production of histamine, IFN-γ, IL-6 and antibodies was monitored by ELISA. Live bacteria were cultured and DNA was detected by PCR. Cellular immunity was tested by ELISPOT. Results: After re-infections, culture positivity and persistence of DNA in lungs and blood were shorter. Detection of DNA at late time points indicated persistent infection in a few mice. Histamine was produced after primary and re-infections, and the level correlated with the number of viable bacteria in lung. IFN-γ, IL-6 levels, IgG2/IgG1 ratio, IgA titres, and level of chlamydial heat-shock protein antibodies were higher after re-infections. IgM antibodies were demonstrated even after re-infections. High number of IFN-γ-producing splenocytes was observed after the third inoculation. Conclusion: These results promote an understanding of the patho- and immune mechanisms after C. pneumoniae re-infections.