Local Th1-like responses are induced by intravaginal infection of mice with the mouse pneumonitis biovar of Chlamydia trachomatis

Abstract

A critical role for cell-mediated immunity (CMI) has been demonstrated for effecting the resolution of genital infections of mice infected intravaginally with the mouse pneumonitis biovar of Chlamydia trachomatis (MoPn). However, little is known about expression of CMI in the murine genital tract. The mouse MoPn model was used to examine CMI responses in the genital tract and associated lymph nodes during the course of infection. MoPn-specific lymphocytes were present in the genital mucosa, with the maximum level of proliferation in response to MoPn at 3 weeks postinfection. MoPn-stimulated cells secreting gamma interferon were also detected in the cells from the genital mucosa, but few interleukin-4-secreting cells were seen at any time postinfection, indicating the induction of a Th1-like response in the cells of the genital mucosa. The iliac node draining the genital tract was the major node stimulated as a result of a genital infection and exhibited a predominant Th1-like pattern of cytokine secretion as well. Mesenteric lymph node cells demonstrated poor proliferative responses to MoPn and few antigen-stimulated cytokine-secreting cells after the primary infection. However, 7 days after a second infection administered 50 days following the primary infection, there was a marked increase in both proliferative responses and the frequencies of MoPn-stimulated gamma interferonand interleukin-4-secreting cells. These studies provided information regarding the local CMI response to MoPn in mice which may prove valuable in the development of vaccination strategies for the prevention of chlamydial genital infections.

Studies in Knockout Mice Reveal that Anti‐Chlamydial Protection Requires TH1 Cells Producing IFN‐γ: Is this True for Humans?

“…However, in laboratory animals other than the mouse there has been controversy for a number of years over the relative role of antibody or cell mediated immunity in protection. Few of these experiments could be regarded as definitive from a modern perspective, but it appears that in the guinea pig specific antibodies may play a more prominent role in protection compared to the mouse [23,[26][27][28][29][30][31].…”

Identification and characterization of novel recombinant vaccine antigens for immunization against genitalChlamydia trachomatis

“…The use of various mouse gene-knockout strains (Cotter et al, 1997;Johansson et al, 1997;Su et al, 1997), in vivo depletion of specific lymphocyte populations, and transfer of immune lymphocyte populations to naïve mice led to the notion that C. trachomatis immunity is mediated by mucosal immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies, IgG molecules that transmigrate the gut epithelium, and T-helper type 1 (Th1) CD41 T cells secreting interferon-g (IFN-g) (Cain & Rank, 1995;Morrison et al, 1995;Perry et al, 1997;Igietseme & Murdin, 2000;Morrison & Morrison, 2001;Igietseme et al, 2002;Morrison & Caldwell, 2002;Barr et al, 2005;Brunham & Rey-Ladino, 2005). B-cell-deficient mice are comparable to wild-type mice in overcoming primary infection, suggesting that B cells play only a minor role in preventing an initial infection.…”

Determination of chlamydial load and immune parameters in asymptomatic, symptomatic and infertile women

“…Immunity to chlamydial infection involves both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses (Cain & Rank, 1995;Cotter et al, 1995). Studies in both animal and human models have established that both cytokine-producing T cells and antibody-producing B cells (Bailey et al, 1995;Yang et al, 1999;Cohen et al, 2000;Morrison & Caldwell, 2002) are critically involved in the clearance of chlamydial infection and resistance to reinfection.…”