Clearance of Chlamydia trachomatis-induced polyserositis in SCID mice requires both CD4+ and CD8+ cells.
To characterize the role of specific lymphocyte subsets in Chlamydia trachomatis infection, we established a murine model using the mouse pneumonitis agent (MoPn) of C. trachomatis and C.B-17 scid/scid (SCID) mice which lack functional B and T cells. After intraperitoneal inoculation with the bacteria, SCID mice developed polyserositis with pleuritis, pericarditis, and perihepatitis. Within 8 weeks post infection, SCID mice succumbed to the disease, whereas immunocompetent congenic C.B-17+/+ mice resolved the infection. Adoptive transfer of immune spleen cells into MoPn-infected SCID mice resulted in a complete elimination of the agent and prevention of polyserositis as measured by quantitative chlamydial culture, direct immunofluorescence and histopathological analysis. Selective reconstitution of MoPn-infected SCID mice with immune B lymphocytes, CD4+ T cells or CD8+ T cells alone did not influence the chlamydial load in the lung and liver of infected SCID animals, resulting in a polyserositis as observed in untreated MoPn-infected SCID mice. However, co-transfer of both CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells led to a significant reduction of chlamydiae in quantitative organ culture coupled with unremarkable histopathology. These data confirm that T cell-mediated immune responses are essential for immune protection in chlamydial infection, although total eradication of the agent could not be achieved. Further experiments are needed to stress the importance of a concerted action of B and T lymphocytes, as indicated by the complete protective efficacy of transferred splenocytes.
Thoma-Uszynski
S
S
Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Ulm, Germany.
Simnacher
U
U
Marre
R
R
Essig
A
A
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000637:transplantation; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation; D002460:Cell Line; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D012700:Serositis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial