title: Fate of Chlamydophila pneumoniae in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells: long lasting infection.
abstract: Earlier studies from this group demonstrated that Chlamydophila pneumoniae co-localized with dendritic cells (DC) in temporal artery biopsies from patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA). To investigate the interaction of DC with C. pneumoniae we employed an in vitro cell culture system of human monocyte derived DC. These DC were infected with C. pneumoniae and observed at regular time intervals up to 25 days post infection. Chlamydiae were visualized inside DC by both confocal and electron microscopy. Statistical analysis showed an increase in the number of chlamydial antigen during that period (p < 0.00005, chi2-test). Titration of DC lysates on HEp-2 cells showed that infectious progeny was recovered at various intervals but showed no exponential growth. Additionally, RT-PCR analyses of infected DC identified transcripts from dnaA, ftsK and tal throughout a period of 14 days, indicating viable chlamydiae. Thus, human monocyte-derived DC are susceptible to C. pneumoniae infection. These results indicate that C. pneumoniae-infected DC can play an important role in the transmission of these bacteria in GCA and other chlamydial diseases.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Department of Rheumatology, Carl-Neuberg Strasse 1, Hannover 30625, Germany. wittkop.ulrike@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wittkop
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Krausse-Opatz
authors.forename: Tatjana C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Gust
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kirsch
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hollweg
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Köhler
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zenke
authors.forename: Hervé C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Gérard
authors.forename: Alan P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zeidler
authors.forename: Annette D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009000:Monocytes; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C066312:DnaA protein, Bacteria; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012329:RNA, Bacterial