Cell-mediated immune response associated with Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in atherosclerotic patients. (February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: EL Yazouli, Loubna; Seghrouchni, Fouad; Hejaji, Hicham; Bouazza, Mohamed; Alami, Aziz Aroussi; Dakka, Nadia; Radouani, Fouzia
• Is Part Of: Microbial pathogenesis. Volume 139(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-02
• Subjects: Cell immune response -- Chlamydia pneumoniae -- Flow cytometry; Pathogenic microorganisms -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- parasitology -- Periodicals; Micro-organismes pathogènes -- Périodiques; Pathologie moléculaire -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2019.103860
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0882-4010

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Chlamydia pneumoniae is an obligate intracellular bacterium that activates cell mediated immune responses; several investigations have demonstrated its strong implication in atherosclerosis. Objectives: The main objective of our study was to explore the cell-mediated immune response to C. pneumoniae infection in patients with atherosclerosis by evaluating CD14, CD8 and CD4 expression. Methods: This investigation involved a total of 27 patients with atherosclerosis and 32 controls, among patients recruited to evaluate the association of C. pneumoniae with atherosclerosis. C. pneumoniae DNA was detected in PBMCs by nested PCR as described in our previous studies. CD4, CD8 and CD14 expression was measured by flow cytometry and data analysis was performed using FlowJo software. Results: The results revealed an increase in MFI expression of CD4, CD8 and CD14 in Cpn DNA+ subjects among both patients and healthy subject controls (CD4 Cpn DNA + = 829.11 vs. CD4 Cpn DNA - = 571.14; CD8 Cpn DNA + = 1562 vs. CD8 Cpn DNA - = 699; CD14 Cpn DNA + = 1513.83 vs. CD14 Cpn DNA - = 1170.70), with a statistically significant difference ( p < 0.05). Furthermore, the comparison of CD4, CD8 and CD14 expression between Cpn DNA+ patients and Cpn DNA+ healthy subject controls showed a statistically significant increase in expression in the former group ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: These data provide incentive to further explore the role of C. pneumoniae in stimulating and changing mechanisms of the cell-mediated immune response induced by C. pneumoniae antigens. This may alter immune cell-mediated responses via increased expression of CD4, CD8 and CD14 during inflammation and the development of thrombosis, leading to fatal atherosclerosis. Highlights: CD4, CD8 and CD14 expression was higher in both C. pneumoniae infected cases and controls compared to uninfected subjects. CD4, CD8 and CD14 expression was higher in C. pneumoniae infected cases versus infected controls. C. pneumoniae Ga genotype was more prevalent in infected cases and controls versus Gba genotype.