Epithelial polarity: a key player in Chlamydia trachomatis-host interactions

Chlamydia trachomatis is a major human pathogen responsible for the most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infections. Given its high prevalence, potential for serious complications and high economic burden, understanding the pathogenesis of C. trachomatis infections is crucial for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. Mucosal epithelial cells serve as the primary replicative niche and play a central role in infection. Historically, research has relied heavily on cancer-derived cell line models to study the interactions of C. trachomatis with host cells. Although these models have provided important insights, they fail to fully recapitulate key aspects of human physiology, including apical-basal polarity, a fundamental feature that shapes epithelial functions. Limited studies using polarized in vitro epithelial systems have uncovered unique mechanisms by which C. trachomatis interacts with host cells. In this review, we summarize the current, albeit limited, knowledge on the role of epithelial polarity during C. trachomatis infection and highlight this understudied aspect of chlamydial biology.