title: Chlamydial lipopolysaccharide is present in serum during acute coronary syndrome and correlates with CRP levels.
abstract: Infections, Chlamydia pneumoniae as a major candidate, have been suggested to participate in inflammatory processes ultimately leading to atherosclerosis. In the present study we measured serum levels of chlamydial lipopolysaccharide (cLPS) and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients (n=145). During ACS, both cLPS and hsCRP were elevated and significant correlation (P=0.003, r=0.25) between them was observed. Both cLPS and hsCRP levels decreased after the event and correlation remained significant during the follow-up period. Our results suggest that cLPS is liberated from the damaged tissue persistently infected with C. pneumoniae during the ACS event. The significant correlation between cLPS and hsCRP levels further point to the possibility that both levels reflect the magnitude of tissue damage.
authors.affiliation: National Public Health Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, Biomedicum, P.O. Box 104, FIN-00251 Helsinki, Finland. terttu.tiirola@ktl.fi
authors.forename: Terttu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tiirola
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sinisalo
authors.forename: Markku S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nieminen
authors.forename: Sylvi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silvennoinen-Kassinen
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paldanius
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saikku
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jauhiainen
authors.forename: Maija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leinonen
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000032:analysis*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein