Imiquimod does not affect shedding of viable chlamydiae in a murine model of Chlamydia trachomatis genital tract infection.
OBJECTIVE
We postulated that either oral or vaginal administration of the immune response modifier imiquimod would decrease vaginal shedding of Chlamydia trachomatis, mouse pneumonitis strain (MoPn), in a murine model.


METHODS
Female BALB/c mice were infected intravaginally with C. trachomatis (MoPn) and were administered imiquimod either orally (30 mg/kg) or vaginally (10 microl of 5% imiquimod cream) prior to infection and every second day after infection for a total of four doses. The course of infection was monitored by collecting cervical-vaginal swabs and isolation in HeLa 229 cell culture. To determine whether the drug affected T helper type 1 or T helper type 2 immune response polarization, immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclass antibody responses were assessed at day 56 after infection.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the course of infection when imiquimod-treated mice were compared with sham-treated controls, regardless of whether the drug was administered orally or vaginally. IgG subclass antibody responses, and by extension, T helper type 1 to T helper type 2 immune response polarization, were also unaffected.


CONCLUSIONS
Imiquimod has no efficacy in controlling C. trachomatis (MoPn) infection in the murine model.
Ramsey
Kyle H
KH
Department of Microbiology, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA. kramse@midwestern.edu
Shaba
Namir
N
Cohoon
Kevin P
KP
Ault
Kevin A
KA
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000634:Aminoquinolines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D000077271:Imiquimod