A Chlamydia trachomatis-specific Th2 clone does not provide protection against a genital infection and displays reduced trafficking to the infected genital mucosa.
A T helper type 1 (Th1) response is essential for resolving genital infections with the mouse pneumonitis biovar of Chlamydia trachomatis (MoPn). However, T-cell-dependent anti-chlamydial antibody is produced and may also contribute to protective immunity. We produced a MoPn-specific CD4 Th2 clone (Th2-MoPn) to study the role of a Th2 response during infection. We found that Th2-MoPn was unable to eradicate chlamydiae from the genital tract (GT) when it was transferred into MoPn-infected nude mice. Mice that received Th2-MoPn produced greater titers of MoPn-specific serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody than mice that received a MoPn-specific Th1 clone (Th1-MoPn) (log(10) titers, 1.89 +/- 0.84 and 0.58 +/- 0.76 [mean +/- standard deviation], respectively [P < 0.01]). Also, the IgG isotypes were different for the two groups; whereas IgG1 was associated with Th2-MoPn, IgG2a was associated with Th1-MoPn. Also, infected nude mice that received Th2-MoPn produced higher levels of IgA in vaginal secretions. Although clone Th2-MoPn was detected in the GT, it was less efficient at migrating (112 +/- 35.6 labeled Th2 clone cells/10(5) GT cells) than Th1-MoPn (505 +/- 51.6 Th1 clone cells/10(5) GT cells) (P < 0.001, as determined by a t test). This may have been due to reduced expression of alpha4beta7 and P-selectin ligand 1 on Th2-MoPn. However, Th2-MoPn cells were retained in the GT during chronic infection and comprised 10 to 15% of the total GT cells 80 days after transfer. The data show that the MoPn-specific Th2 cells are important for serum and vaginal antibody production and may accumulate in the GT during chronic infection.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.
Raymond A
RA
Hawkins
Roger G
RG
Rank
Kathleen A
KA
Kelly
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D019007:P-Selectin