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.
Hawkins
Raymond A
RA
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.
Rank
Roger G
RG
Kelly
Kathleen A
KA
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