Srivastava Pragya, Jha Rajneesh, Bas Sylvette, Salhan Sudha, Mittal Aruna
Institute of Pathology - ICMR, Safdarjung Hospital Campus, Post Box no, 4909, New Delhi-110 029, India.
Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2008 May 20;6:20. doi: 10.1186/1477-7827-6-20.
The magnitude of reproductive morbidity associated with sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis infection is enormous. Association of antibodies to chlamydial heat shock proteins (cHSP) 60 and 10 with various disease sequelae such as infertility or ectopic pregnancy has been reported. Cell-mediated immunity is essential in resolution and in protection to Chlamydia as well as is involved in the immunopathogenesis of chlamydial diseases. To date only peripheral cell mediated immune responses have been evaluated for cHSP60. These studies suggest cHSPs as important factors involved in immunopathological condition associated with infection. Hence study of specific cytokine responses of mononuclear cells from the infectious site to cHSP60 and cHSP10 may elucidate their actual role in the cause of immunopathogenesis and the disease outcome.
Female patients (n = 368) attending the gynecology out patient department of Safdarjung hospital, New Delhi were enrolled for the study and were clinically characterized into two groups; chlamydia positive fertile women (n = 63) and chlamydia positive infertile women (n = 70). Uninfected healthy women with no infertility problem were enrolled as controls (n = 39). cHSP60 and cHSP10 specific cytokine responses (Interferon (IFN)-gamma, Interleukin (IL)-10, Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-13 and IL-4) were assessed by ELISA in stimulated cervical mononuclear cell supernatants.
cHSP60 and cHSP10 stimulation results in significant increase in IFN-gamma (P = 0.006 and P = 0.04 respectively) and IL-10 levels (P = 0.04) in infertile group as compared to fertile group. A significant cHSP60 specific increase in TNF-alpha levels (P = 0.0008) was observed in infertile group as compared to fertile group. cHSP60 and cHSP10 specific IFN-gamma and IL-10 levels were significantly correlated (P < 0.0001, r = 0.54 and P = 0.004, r = 0.33 respectively) in infertile group.
Our results suggest that exposure to chlamydial heat shock proteins (cHSP60 and cHSP10) could significantly affect mucosal immune function by increasing the release of IFN-gamma, IL-10 and TNF-alpha by cervical mononuclear cells.
性传播沙眼衣原体感染所致生殖系统发病情况严重。有报道称，衣原体热休克蛋白（cHSP）60和10的抗体与诸如不孕或异位妊娠等各种疾病后遗症有关。细胞介导的免疫对于衣原体感染的消退和防护至关重要，且参与衣原体疾病的免疫发病机制。迄今为止，仅对cHSP60的外周细胞介导免疫反应进行了评估。这些研究表明，cHSP是与感染相关的免疫病理状况中的重要因素。因此，研究感染部位单核细胞对cHSP60和cHSP10的特异性细胞因子反应，可能会阐明它们在免疫发病机制及疾病转归原因中的实际作用。
选取新德里萨夫达容医院妇科门诊的女性患者（n = 368）纳入研究，并根据临床特征分为两组；衣原体阳性的可育女性（n = 63）和衣原体阳性的不孕女性（n = 70）。将无不孕问题的未感染健康女性作为对照组（n = 39）。通过酶联免疫吸附测定法（ELISA）评估刺激后的宫颈单核细胞上清液中cHSP60和cHSP10特异性细胞因子反应（干扰素（IFN）-γ、白细胞介素（IL）-10、肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）-α、IL-13和IL-4）。
与可育组相比，cHSP60和cHSP10刺激导致不孕组中IFN-γ水平（分别为P = 0.006和P = 0.04）和IL-10水平（P = 0.04）显著升高。与可育组相比，不孕组中观察到cHSP60特异性TNF-α水平显著升高（P = 0.0008）。在不孕组中，cHSP60和cHSP10特异性IFN-γ和IL-10水平显著相关（分别为P < 0.0001，r = 0.54和P = 0.004，r = 0.33）。
我们的结果表明，接触衣原体热休克蛋白（cHSP60和cHSP10）可通过增加宫颈单核细胞释放IFN-γ、IL-10和TNF-α，显著影响黏膜免疫功能。
