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Cardiovascular infection by Chlamydia pneumoniae is not related to apolipoprotein E genotype
J Gieffers1, W Solbach, M Maass
1Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Medical University of Lübeck, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany. gieffers@hygiene.mu-luebeck.de
Insights
Chlamydia pneumoniae infection is found in the blood vessels of arteriosclerosis patients. However, the apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotype does not appear to increase the risk for this vascular infection.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Genetics
Background:
- Arteriosclerosis is a cardiovascular disease associated with vascular infections.
- Chlamydia pneumoniae has been detected in the blood vessels of patients with arteriosclerosis.
- The apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotype influences arteriosclerosis risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotype and the risk of vascular Chlamydia pneumoniae infection.
- To determine if specific apoE alleles are risk factors for C. pneumoniae infection in coronary artery tissue.
Main Methods:
- Genotyping of apolipoprotein E (apoE) alleles in patients.
- Detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae in coronary artery tissue using PCR.
- Analysis of 30 patients with coronary heart disease and PCR-proven vascular C. pneumoniae infection.
Main Results:
- The study analyzed the apoE genotype in 30 patients with confirmed vascular Chlamydia pneumoniae infection.
- No significant association was found between the apoE genotype and an increased risk for vascular C. pneumoniae infection.
Conclusions:
- The apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotype is not a distinct risk factor for vascular Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in patients with arteriosclerosis.
- Further research may be needed to fully understand the interplay between host genetics and vascular pathogens.
Abstract:
Chlamydia pneumoniae is detectable in the blood vessels of patients suffering from arteriosclerosis. Risk for arteriosclerosis is modulated by the apolipoprotein E (apoE) allele. We assessed the significance of the apoE genotype as a risk factor for vascular C. pneumoniae infection by determining the genotype of 30 coronary heart disease patients with PCR-proven C. pneumoniae infection of coronary artery tissue. The apoE genotype is not distinctly associated with an increased risk for vascular C. pneumoniae infection.