Immunohistochemical analysis of TNF-alpha and HSP-60 in women with tubal factor infertility associated with Chlamydia trachomatis.
To explore the roles of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and heat shock protein 60 (HSP-60) in women with tubal factor infertility (TFI) associated with Chlamydia trachomatis, and to determine the mechanisms of fallopian adhesions in Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections, the expressions of TNF-alpha and HSP-60 were quantitatively determined in 60 cases of TFI and 30 controls by immunohistochemical technique. The patients with TFI were further divided into group A and group B according to the CT-DNA of cervical specimens of PCR. The quantitative analysis was conducted by employing computerized image analysis system. It is found that the expressions of TNF-alpha and HSP-60 were much higher in TFI patients than those of controls. Among CT-HSP responders, a stronger expression was correlated with more severe salpingeal pathology. It is concluded that TNF-alpha and HSP-60 play very important roles in fallopian tube adhesion and occlusion in TFI due to CT infection.
Zhao
Haizhen
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
Li
Hongfa
H
D000328:Adult; D018834:Chaperonin 60 / Q000097:blood*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000097:blood*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D005184:Fallopian Tube Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D018834:Chaperonin 60; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha