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Updated: Oct 3, 2026
A Human Fallopian Tube Model for Investigation of C. trachomatis Infections
Published on: August 11, 2012
Chlamydial heat shock protein 60--specific T cells in inflamed salpingeal tissue
Anne Kinnunen1, Pontus Molander, Richard Morrison
1National Public Health Institute, Oulu, Finland
Objective:
To evaluate the role of chlamydial heat shock protein 60 (CHSP60)-specific T-lymphocytes in tubal factor infertility.
Design:
Case series of patients with tubal factor infertility.
Setting:
Infertility Clinic, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital and Laboratory of Cell-Mediated Immunity, National Public Health Institute, Oulu, Finland.
Patient(S):
Five patients with tubal factor infertility who underwent elective salpingectomy because of hydrosalpinges.
Intervention:
Collection of salpingeal tissue specimens for in vitro culture of T-lymphocytes.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Cloning of Chlamydia trachomatis and CHSP60-specific T-lymphocyte lines derived from inflamed salpingeal tissue. Cytokine production analysis of the established T-lymphocyte clones.
Result(S):
Seventy-seven (34%) of the 229 T-lymphocyte clones recognized C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae elementary bodies as target antigens. One-third of these Chlamydia genus-specific T-lymphocyte clones further recognized CHSP60 as the target antigen. Most of the CHSP60-specific T-lymphocyte clones produced predominantly IL-10.
Conclusion(S):
CHSP60 may be an important T-lymphocyte antigen involved in the immunopathogenesis of tubal damage associated with chronic C. trachomatis infection.
