Reactivation of Chlamydia pneumoniae lung infection in mice by cortisone.
To study persistent infection, reactivation of Chlamydia pneumoniae lung infection in mice was attempted by immunosuppression with cortisone treatment. Four-week-old Swiss-Webster mice were treated with cortisone acetate (125 mg/kg) every other day for a total of six doses, starting on day 28 after intranasal inoculation of C. pneumoniae AR-39. C. pneumoniae was recovered from the lungs in 6 of 13 animals after six doses of cortisone, while control animals given saline remained negative. C. pneumoniae DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction in the 6 culture-positive mice and 2 of 10 controls. The presence of pathogen DNA in this animal model suggested viable organisms in a culture-negative state.
Malinverni
R
R
Department of Pathobiology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
Kuo
C C
CC
Campbell
L A
LA
Grayston
J T
JT
D000818:Animals; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003348:Cortisone; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D003348:Cortisone