Characterization of Chlamydia pneumoniae persistence in HEp-2 cells treated with gamma interferon.
Infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae has been implicated as a potential risk factor for atherosclerosis. This study demonstrated the effects of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)-mediated indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity on C. pneumoniae persistence in HEp-2 cells, inclusion morphology, and ultrastructure. C. pneumoniae replication showed a dose-dependent decrease when treated with increasing concentrations of IFN-gamma and a phenotypic switch resulting in a decrease in typical inclusions with an increase in smaller, less-dense atypical inclusions. Ultrastructural analysis of IFN-gamma-treated C. pneumoniae revealed atypical inclusions containing large reticulatate-like aberrant bodies with no evidence of redifferentiation into elementary bodies.
Pantoja
L G
LG
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA.
Miller
R D
RD
Ramirez
J A
JA
Molestina
R E
RE
Summersgill
J T
JT
D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D002479:Inclusion Bodies; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms; D014366:Tryptophan Oxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D007371:Interferon-gamma; D014366:Tryptophan Oxygenase