Back to Search
Start Over
Chlamydia pneumoniae acute liver infection affects hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism in mice.
- Source :
-
Atherosclerosis [Atherosclerosis] 2015 Aug; Vol. 241 (2), pp. 471-9. Date of Electronic Publication: 2015 Jun 03. - Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Objective: Chlamydia pneumoniae has been linked to atherosclerosis, strictly associated with hyperlipidemia. The liver plays a central role in the regulation of lipid metabolism. Since in animal models C. pneumoniae can be found at hepatic level, this study aims to elucidate whether C. pneumoniae infection accelerates atherosclerosis by affecting lipid metabolism.<br />Methods: Thirty Balb/c mice were challenged intra-peritoneally with C. pneumoniae elementary bodies and thirty with Chlamydia trachomatis, serovar D. Thirty mice were injected with sucrose-phosphate-glutamate buffer, as negative controls. Seven days after infection, liver samples were examined both for presence of chlamydia and expression of genes involved in inflammation and lipid metabolism.<br />Results: C. pneumoniae was isolated from 26 liver homogenates, whereas C. trachomatis was never re-cultivated (P < 0.001). C. pneumoniae infected mice showed significantly increased serum cholesterol and triglycerides levels compared both with negative controls (P < 0.001 and P = 0.0197, respectively) and C. trachomatis infected mice (P < 0.001). Liver bile acids were significantly reduced in C. pneumoniae compared to controls and C. trachomatis infected mice. In C. pneumoniae infected livers, cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (Cyp7a1) and low-density lipoprotein receptor (Ldlr) mRNA levels were reduced, while inducible degrader of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (Idol) expression was increased. Hypertriglyceridemia was associated to reduced expression of hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1a (Cpt1a) and medium chain acyl-Coenzyme A dehydrogenase (Acadm). Pro-inflammatory cytokines gene expression was increased compared to negative controls. Conversely, in C. trachomatis infected animals, normal serum lipid levels were associated with elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines gene expression, linked to only a mild disturbance of lipid regulatory genes.<br />Conclusion: Our results indicate that C. pneumoniae mouse liver infection induces dyslipidemic effects with significant modifications of genes involved in lipid metabolism.<br /> (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase metabolism
Animals
Atherosclerosis complications
Atherosclerosis microbiology
Bile Acids and Salts metabolism
Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase metabolism
Chlamydia Infections complications
Chlamydia trachomatis
Chlamydophila pneumoniae
Cytokines metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation
Glutamic Acid chemistry
Inflammation
Infusions, Parenteral
Lipid Metabolism
Lipids blood
Liver microbiology
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Phosphates chemistry
Sucrose chemistry
Chlamydia Infections microbiology
Cholesterol metabolism
Liver metabolism
Liver Failure, Acute microbiology
Triglycerides metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1879-1484
- Volume :
- 241
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Atherosclerosis
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 26086356
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2015.05.023