title: Detection of Chlamydophila pneumoniae in dendritic cells in atherosclerotic lesions.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DCs) populate atherosclerotic lesions and might be involved in the regulation of immune reactions in atherosclerosis. The present work was undertaken to examine a possible association of DCs with Chlamydophila pneumoniae in human atherosclerotic plaques obtained by endarterectomy. C. pneumoniae was identified in 17 of 60 (28%) atherosclerotic plaques by a combination of immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Double immunohistochemistry identified the presence of C. pneumoniae within S100(+) DCs that were localised predominantly in the deep layer of the intima under the necrotic core. Quantitative analysis showed that there were no differences in the numbers of DCs between C. pneumoniae(+) and C. pneumoniae(-) groups of atherosclerotic specimens. There were also no differences in the expression of Lag-antigen and HLA-DR by DCs between the groups of specimens. Markers of DC activation CD80 and CD86 were absent from both groups of specimens. Flow cytometry analysis of the effects of C. pneumoniae infection on immature monocyte-derived DCs in vitro showed no changes in the expression of CD1a, MHC class II, CD80 and CD86. The results of this study demonstrate that C. pneumoniae might infect DCs within the atherosclerotic intima but whether the presence of C. pneumoniae in DCs affects the intensity of immune reactions in atherosclerosis needs further clarification.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Professional Unit, St. Vincent's Hospital, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. ybobryshev@stvincents.com.au
authors.forename: Yuri V
authors.initials: YV
authors.lastname: Bobryshev
authors.forename: Weiping
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Meng Chee
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Phoon
authors.forename: Dinh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Vincent T K
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Reginald S A
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Lord
authors.forename: Jinhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology