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Mucosal and systemic immune responses to plasmid protein pgp3 in patients with genital and ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection.

Mucosal and systemic immune responses to plasmid protein pgp3 in patients with genital and ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection.

Authors :
GHAEM-MAGHAMI, S.
RATTI, G.
GHAEM-MAGHAMI, M.
COMANDUCCI, M.
HAY, P. E.
BAILEY, R. L.
MABEY, D. C. W.
WHITTLE, H. C.
WARD, M. E.
LEWIS, D. J. M.
Source :
Clinical & Experimental Immunology; Jun2003, Vol. 132 Issue 3, p436-442, 7p
Publication Year :
2003

Abstract

SUMMARY The circulating and cervical B cell responses to Chlamydia trachomatis plasmid protein pgp3 were characterized in children and adults with ocular or genital chlamydial infection using the enzyme-linked immunospot assay (ELISPOT) and ELISA. No pgp3-specific ASCs were detected in healthy controls, but predominantly IgA ASCs were detected in UK adults with uncomplicated cervicitis or urethritis (P = 0·03, 0·019). In patients with extragenital complications or pelvic inflammatory disease a mixed response with more IgG and IgM ASCs was evident, suggesting a breach of mucosal immune compartmentalization with more extensive infection. In women with chlamydial cervicitis, ASCs secreting predominantly IgA, but also IgG, to pgp3 were present in cervix at presentation, with a frequency 30–50 times higher than blood. Cervical ASC numbers, especially IgG, fell markedly six weeks after antibiotic treatment. We detected principally IgA pgp3-specific antibody secreting cells (ASCs) in children resident in a Gambian endemic area, with a trend towards suppression of IgA responses during intense trachomatous inflammation (P = 0·06), as previously reported for other chlamydial antigens, and in keeping with the findings in genital disease. These data provide a rationale for further studies of immune responses to pgp3 in humans and animal models of chlamydia-induced disease, and its potential use in diagnostic assays and protective immunization strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00099104
Volume :
132
Issue :
3
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Clinical & Experimental Immunology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
9929994
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2249.2003.02163.x