title: Chlamydia pneumoniae infection induces an unstable atherosclerotic plaque phenotype in LDL-receptor, ApoE double knockout mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study whether Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) infection affects atherosclerotic plaque morphology in atherogenic (LDLr/ApoE(-/-)) mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  In mice sacrificed 20 or 40 weeks after Cpn infection aortic arch sections were analysed for lesion and fibrous cap area and the presence of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and -9.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All infected mice seroconverted, demonstrated Cpn DNA in their aortas on PCR and developed atherosclerotic plaques. Infection was not associated with changes in lesion area or type, but was associated with reduced the fibrous cap area and increased MMP-2 and -9 immunoreactivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that Cpn infection may predispose to plaque instability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ezzahiri
authors.forename: F R M
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Stassen
authors.forename: H A J M
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kurvers
authors.forename: M M L
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: van Pul
authors.forename: P J E H M
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kitslaar
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bruggeman
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001011:Aorta / Q000378:metabolism; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000032:analysis; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010641:Phenotype; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D011973:Receptors, LDL; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9