Sessa R, Nicoletti M, Di Pietro M, Schiavoni G, Santino I, Zagaglia C, Del Piano M, Cipriani P
Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2009 Jan-Mar;22(1):9-14. doi: 10.1177/039463200902200102.
Chlamydia pneumoniae, an intracellular bacterial pathogen, is known as a leading cause of human respiratory tract infections worldwide. Over the last decade, several reports in the literature have suggested that infection with C. pneumoniae may contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In order to play a causative role in chronic disease, C. pneumoniae would need to persist within infected tissue for extended periods of time, thereby stimulating a chronic inflammatory response. C. pneumoniae has been shown to disseminate systemically from the lungs through infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells and to localize in arteries where it may infect endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, monocytes/macrophages and promote inflammatory atherogenous process. The involvement of C. pneumoniae in atherosclerosis was investigated by seroepidemiological and pathological studies, in vivo and in vitro studies, and in clinical antibiotic treatment trials. This review will provide an update on the role of C. pneumoniae in atherosclerosis focusing on the recent insights and suggesting areas for future research.
肺炎衣原体是一种细胞内细菌病原体，是全球范围内人类呼吸道感染的主要原因之一。在过去十年中，文献中的几份报告表明，肺炎衣原体感染可能与动脉粥样硬化的发病机制有关。为了在慢性疾病中发挥致病作用，肺炎衣原体需要在受感染组织中长期持续存在，从而引发慢性炎症反应。已证明肺炎衣原体可通过受感染的外周血单核细胞从肺部全身扩散，并定位于动脉中，在那里它可能感染内皮细胞、血管平滑肌细胞、单核细胞/巨噬细胞，并促进炎症性动脉粥样硬化过程。通过血清流行病学和病理学研究、体内和体外研究以及临床抗生素治疗试验，对肺炎衣原体在动脉粥样硬化中的作用进行了调查。本综述将提供关于肺炎衣原体在动脉粥样硬化中作用的最新情况，重点关注最近的见解，并提出未来研究的领域。
