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Forward Genetic Approaches in Chlamydia trachomatis
09:03

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Published on: October 23, 2013

Selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors prevent the growth of Chlamydia pneumoniae in HL cells

Ying Yan1, Sylvi Silvennoinen-Kassinen, Liisa Törmäkangas

  • 1Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5A, Oulu, Finland. ying.yan@oulu.fi

International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents
|June 6, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Selective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors SC-560 and PTPBS demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of Chlamydia pneumoniae growth in cell cultures. These compounds exhibit a chlamydiostatic effect, slowing but not eliminating the infection.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Chlamydia pneumoniae is a significant human pathogen.
  • Cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes play roles in inflammatory and infectious processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of selective COX inhibitors on Chlamydia pneumoniae growth and viability.
  • To assess the effects of SC-560 and PTPBS on C. pneumoniae in HL cell cultures.

Main Methods:

  • Quantification of Chlamydia pneumoniae inclusions and re-passages to assess growth and viability.
  • Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to measure COX-1 and COX-2 mRNA expression.
  • Treatment of infected HL cell cultures with varying concentrations of SC-560 and PTPBS.

Main Results:

  • SC-560 and PTPBS completely inhibited C. pneumoniae growth in a dose-dependent manner.
  • Inclusion size was significantly reduced in the presence of the drugs.
  • Removal of the inhibitors restored inclusion size and increased their number, indicating a reversible effect.

Conclusions:

  • Selective COX inhibitors display a chlamydiostatic, not chlamydiacidic, effect against Chlamydia pneumoniae in vitro.
  • These agents inhibit C. pneumoniae growth but do not prevent infection or eradicate the bacteria from host cells.

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