title: Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and hyperlipidaemia-induced expression of P50 and c-Fos in the heart of C57BL6J mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate infection by Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) and the combined effects of an atherogenic diet on the expression of AP-1 or the subunit of AP-1 (c-Fos) and NF-kappaB or the subunit of NF-kappaB (P50) in myocardial cells of C57BL/6J mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-six 8-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups: A, B and C (twelve mice in each group). Mice in group A were fed an atherogenic diet (consisting of 15% fat and 2.5% cholesterol). Those in group B and C (as blank control) were fed a regular diet. The mice in group B were infected with C. pneumoniae. Fourteen weeks later, the expression of P50 (subunit of NF-kappaB) and c-Fos (subunit of AP-1) in the heart was determined by indirect immunofluorescence in the myocardial cells. Binding activity of NF-kappaB and AP-1 in the heart was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The expression of NF-kappaB and AP-1 in the myocardial cells was upregulated in group A and B, compared with group C (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between group A and B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inflammatory process was already initiated in the myocardial cells in C57BL/6J mice at the early stage of C. pneumoniae infection and hyperlipidaemia. The expression of NF-kappaB and AP-1 was upregulated in mice infected by C. pneumoniae or fed an atherogenic diet. C. pneumoniae or hyperlipidaemia may involve the pathogenesis and progression of ischaemic cardiomyopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, He Xian Memorial Hospital of Panyu District, Guangzhou, China. hbs8311@163.com
authors.forename: Bingsheng
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yugang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Guixiong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yuyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yanlin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Jingcao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Weiyi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D015870:Gene Expression; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D004247:DNA