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In vitro infection of smooth muscle cells by Chlamydia pneumoniae
E Knoebel1, P Vijayagopal, J E Figueroa
1Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans 70112, USA.
Abstract:
Recent observations have shown that both Chlamydia pneumoniae antigens and DNA may be found within atherosclerotic lesions. In this study, we evaluated the ability of C. pneumoniae to infect cells that make up atherosclerotic lesions, including endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and cholesterol-loaded smooth muscle cells. The organism readily infected rabbit, bovine, and human aortic smooth muscle cells. Cholesterol-loaded smooth muscle cells were even more susceptible to C. pneumoniae infection. Chlamydia trachomatis inefficiently infected smooth muscle cells, demonstrating that this is not a characteristic of all members of the genus Chlamydia. C. pneumoniae infected bovine endothelial cells poorly. This study demonstrates that C. pneumoniae readily infects one of the important types of cells found within atherosclerotic lesions, i.e., smooth muscle cells with and without cholesterol loading.
Insights
Chlamydia pneumoniae readily infects smooth muscle cells, key components of atherosclerotic lesions. Cholesterol-loaded cells showed increased susceptibility, suggesting a role for this bacterium in atherosclerosis development.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Infectious Diseases
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA and antigens are found in atherosclerotic lesions.
- The role of C. pneumoniae infection in atherosclerosis pathogenesis is under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the infectivity of Chlamydia pneumoniae in cells constituting atherosclerotic lesions.
- To determine if cholesterol loading influences C. pneumoniae infection in smooth muscle cells.
Main Methods:
- Infection of rabbit, bovine, and human aortic smooth muscle cells with C. pneumoniae.
- Assessment of C. pneumoniae infectivity in cholesterol-loaded smooth muscle cells.
- Comparative infection studies with Chlamydia trachomatis and bovine endothelial cells.
Main Results:
- C. pneumoniae efficiently infected aortic smooth muscle cells from multiple species.
- Cholesterol-loaded smooth muscle cells exhibited higher susceptibility to C. pneumoniae.
- Chlamydia trachomatis showed inefficient infection of smooth muscle cells.
- C. pneumoniae demonstrated poor infection of bovine endothelial cells.
Conclusions:
- C. pneumoniae readily infects smooth muscle cells, a critical cell type in atherosclerotic lesions.
- Cholesterol loading enhances smooth muscle cell susceptibility to C. pneumoniae.
- The tropism for smooth muscle cells is specific to C. pneumoniae, not all Chlamydia species.
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