Chlamydia pneumoniae and atherosclerosis. Identification of bacterial DNA in the arterial wall.
OBJECTIVE
The intracellular Gram-negative bacterium Chlamydia pneumoniae has been associated with atherosclerosis. The presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae has been investigated in fragments of the arterial wall with a technique for DNA identification.


METHODS
Arterial fragments obtained from vascular surgical procedures in 58 patients were analyzed. From these patients, 39 were males and the mean age was 65+/-6 years. The polymerase chain reaction was used to identify the bacterial DNA with a pair of primers that codify the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia pneumoniae. The amplified product was visualized by electrophoresis in the 2% agarose gel stained with ethidium bromide, and it was considered positive when migrating in the band of molecular weight of the positive controls.


RESULTS
Seven (12%) out of the 58 patients showed positive results for Chlamydia pneumoniae.


CONCLUSIONS
DNA from Chlamydia pneumoniae was identified in the arterial wall of a substantial number of patients with atherosclerosis. This association, which has already been described in other countries, corroborates the evidence favoring a role played by Chlamydia pneumoniae in atherogenesis.
Coutinho
M S
MS
Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
Nakamae
F J
FJ
Menezes
M E
ME
D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000382:microbiology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors
D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial