Ectopic lymphoid tissue formation in the lungs of mice infected with Chlamydia pneumoniae is associated with epithelial macrophage inflammatory protein-2/CXCL2 expression.

Abstract

Infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cp) accounts for around 10% of community acquired bacterial pneumonia and has been associated with other chronic inflammatory conditions. We describe a C57/Bl6 murine model of Cp lung infection characterized by a dose-dependent, resolving neutrophilia followed by lymphocytic infiltration of the lungs. By 21 days post-infection, mice exhibit a T helper type 1 (Th1) polarized serum antibody response with local mucosal antibody secretion and organization of ectopic lymphoid tissue which persisted in the absence of detectable Cp DNA. Macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2/CXCL2, which recruits neutrophils and lymphocytes and is associated with ectopic lymphoid tissue formation, was secreted in the lungs post-infection. In vitro, lung epithelial cells up-regulated MIP-2/CXCL2 in response to both rough lipopolysaccharide (reLPS) and Cp infection. We conclude that Cp infection can have long-term inflammatory effects on tissue that persist after clearance of active infection.

• Authors: P M Fitch, N M Wheelhouse, P Bowles, M Paterson, D Longbottom, G Entrican, S E M Howie
• Journal: Clinical and experimental immunology (Clin Exp Immunol) Vol. 162 Issue 2 Pg. 372-8 (Nov 2010) ISSN: 1365-2249 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20840653 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2010 The Authors; Clinical and Experimental Immunology © 2010 British Society for Immunology.

Chemical References

• Chemokine CXCL2
• Cxcl2 protein, mouse
• DNA, Bacterial
• Immunoglobulin A
• Immunoglobulin G
• Lipopolysaccharides

Topics

• Animals
• Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid (chemistry, cytology, immunology)
• Cell Line
• Chemokine CXCL2 (genetics, metabolism)
• Chlamydophila Infections (metabolism, microbiology, pathology)
• Chlamydophila pneumoniae
• Choristoma (immunology, pathology)
• DNA, Bacterial (metabolism)
• Epithelial Cells (drug effects, metabolism)
• Gene Expression (drug effects, genetics)
• Immunoglobulin A (immunology, metabolism)
• Immunoglobulin G (blood, immunology)
• Inflammation (pathology)
• Lipopolysaccharides (immunology, pharmacology)
• Lung (metabolism, microbiology, pathology)
• Lymphocytes (pathology)
• Lymphoid Tissue (immunology, pathology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Neutrophils (pathology)
• Respiratory Mucosa (metabolism, pathology)
• Time Factors