No detectable Chlamydia pneumoniae and cytomegalovirus DNA in leukocytes in subjects with echolucent and echogenic carotid artery plaques.
BACKGROUND
Controversy exists whether persistent Chlamydia pneumoniae or cytomegalovirus infections cause initiation or progression of atherosclerosis. C. pneumoniae DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) has been proposed to be a more reliable marker of cardiovascular risk than are C. pneumoniae antibodies. Reported prevalences of C. pneumoniae DNA among cardiovascular patients vary greatly, indicating methodological limitations. There is an increasing concern that published results may have been biased by extensive use of less specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology.


METHODS
C. pneumoniae DNA and cytomegalovirus DNA were determined by probe-based real-time PCR technology in PBMCs among subjects with echolucent (n=29) or echogenic (n=28) carotid artery plaques, and in controls without carotid plaques (n=38), all recruited from a population-based study. Samples were examined in multiple repeats with PCR assays targeting two different sequences of the genome for both microorganisms.


CONCLUSIONS
IgG seropositivity was frequent in all three groups, confirming previous exposure, but C. pneumoniae DNA or cytomegalovirus DNA was not detected in a single PBMC sample by means of probe-based, highly sensitive, and specific real-time PCR assays. Our results indicate that persistent C. pneumoniae or CMV infection is not a common phenomenon in subjects with carotid atherosclerosis.
Halvorsen
Dag S
DS
Department of Microbiology, University Hospital of North Norway, N-9038 Tromsø, Norway. dag.seeger.halvorsen@unn.no
Karlsen
Joachim
J
Notø
Ann-Trude W
AT
Mathiesen
Ellisiv B
EB
Njølstad
Inger
I
Gutteberg
Tore J
TJ
Vorland
Lars H
LH
Hansen
John-Bjarne
JB
D000368:Aged; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D014463:Ultrasonography
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004279:DNA, Viral