Igietseme Joseph U, Omosun Yusuf, Nagy Tamas, Stuchlik Olga, Reed Matthew S, He Qing, Partin James, Joseph Kahaliah, Ellerson Debra, George Zenas, Goldstein Jason, Eko Francis O, Bandea Claudiu, Pohl Jan, Black Carolyn M
National Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry & Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Infect Immun. 2017 Dec 19;86(1). doi: 10.1128/IAI.00585-17. Print 2018 Jan.
The reproductive system complications of genital chlamydial infection include fallopian tube fibrosis and tubal factor infertility. However, the molecular pathogenesis of these complications remains poorly understood. The induction of pathogenic epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through microRNA (miRNA) dysregulation was recently proposed as the pathogenic basis of chlamydial complications. Focusing on fibrogenesis, we investigated the hypothesis that chlamydia-induced fibrosis is caused by EMT-driven generation of myofibroblasts, the effector cells of fibrosis that produce excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. The results revealed that the targets of a major category of altered miRNAs during chlamydial infection are key components of the pathophysiological process of fibrogenesis; these target molecules include collagen types I, III, and IV, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), TGF-β receptor 1 (TGF-βR1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), E-cadherin, SRY-box 7 (SOX7), and NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) kinase dual-specificity tyrosine (Y) phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1a (Dyrk1a). Chlamydial induction of EMT resulted in the generation of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)-positive myofibroblasts that produced ECM proteins, including collagen types I and III and fibronectin. Furthermore, the inhibition of EMT prevented the generation of myofibroblasts and production of ECM proteins during chlamydial infection. These findings may provide useful avenues for targeting EMT or specific components of the EMT pathways as a therapeutic intervention strategy to prevent chlamydia-related complications.
生殖道衣原体感染的生殖系统并发症包括输卵管纤维化和输卵管因素导致的不孕。然而,这些并发症的分子发病机制仍知之甚少。最近有人提出,通过微小RNA(miRNA)失调诱导致病性上皮-间质转化(EMT)是衣原体并发症的发病基础。聚焦于纤维化形成,我们研究了衣原体诱导的纤维化是由EMT驱动的肌成纤维细胞生成所致这一假说,肌成纤维细胞是纤维化的效应细胞,可产生过量的细胞外基质(ECM)蛋白。结果显示,衣原体感染期间一大类改变的miRNA的靶标是纤维化病理生理过程的关键组成部分;这些靶标分子包括I型、III型和IV型胶原、转化生长因子β(TGF-β)、TGF-β受体1(TGF-βR1)、结缔组织生长因子(CTGF)、E-钙黏蛋白、SRY盒7(SOX7)以及活化T细胞核因子(NFAT)激酶双特异性酪氨酸(Y)磷酸化调节激酶1a(Dyrk1a)。衣原体诱导的EMT导致产生α-平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-SMA)阳性的肌成纤维细胞,这些细胞可产生ECM蛋白,包括I型和III型胶原以及纤连蛋白。此外,抑制EMT可防止衣原体感染期间肌成纤维细胞的生成和ECM蛋白的产生。这些发现可能为将EMT或EMT途径的特定成分作为预防衣原体相关并发症的治疗干预策略提供有用的途径。