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Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection Differentially Modulates Human Dendritic Cell Line (MUTZ)

C W Armitage1, C P O'Meara1, K W Beagley1

  • 1Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Qld, Australia.

Scandinavian Journal of Immunology
|April 3, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae infect human cells differently. Live Chlamydia pneumoniae infection of dendritic cells (MUTZ) upregulates immune markers and cytokines, unlike C. trachomatis serovar D.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae are significant human pathogens.
  • While epithelial cell infection is known, their interaction with leukocytes, including dendritic cells (DCs), is increasingly recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the species and serovar-specific interactions of Chlamydia with a human dendritic cell line (MUTZ).
  • To assess the impact of Chlamydia infection on DC maturation, cytokine secretion, and migratory marker expression.

Main Methods:

  • Infection of MUTZ cells with different Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae serovars.
  • Analysis of costimulatory marker (CD80, CD83, HLA-DR) upregulation.
  • Quantification of secreted cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IFN-γ, TNF-α).
  • Assessment of CCR7 mRNA expression.

Main Results:

  • Chlamydial infection and replication within MUTZ cells were found to be species and serovar-specific.
  • Live Chlamydia pneumoniae infection upregulated DC costimulatory markers and induced secretion of multiple cytokines.
  • Chlamydia trachomatis serovar D failed to upregulate costimulatory markers but induced IL-8 secretion.
  • Non-replicative infections with C. pneumoniae and C. trachomatis serovar L2 upregulated CCR7 mRNA, indicating potential for migration.

Conclusions:

  • MUTZ cells provide a useful model for studying Chlamydia-DC interactions.
  • Different Chlamydia species and serovars elicit distinct immune responses in dendritic cells.
  • The study highlights the complex interplay between Chlamydia and the host immune system, particularly at the level of dendritic cell activation and migration.

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