title: A distinct cellular profile is seen in the human endocervix during Chlamydia trachomatis infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The endocervix is a major target of Chlamydia trachomatis infection, but little is known about the immune repertoire in this tissue, or its response to these common bacteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a cytobrush, we isolated cells from the endocervix of 20 women during C. trachomatis infection, and post-antibiotic treatment. Endocervical swabs and blood were taken in parallel. Endocervical cells were enumerated, and endocervical and blood T cells immunophenotyped. Chlamydia trachomatis was genotyped by sequence analysis of the OmpA gene, and quantified by culture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chlamydia trachomatis genotypes were D, E, F and Ia, and infectious burden varied considerably. Endocervical T cell and neutrophil numbers were highly elevated during infection, with both CD4 and CD8 T-cell subsets accumulating. Regardless of the presence or absence of infection, the endocervical cell infiltrate was dominated by effector memory T cells, and the numbers of CCR5 and CD103 expressing T cells was significantly higher than in the blood. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA-DR) expression by endocervical T cells was significantly increased during infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The human endocervix exhibits a distinct cellular response to C. trachomatis infection that can be longitudinally evaluated by cytobrush sampling. Infecting organisms can be sampled and analyzed in parallel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112-1393, USA.
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ficarra
authors.forename: Joyce S A
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ibana
authors.forename: Constance
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Poretta
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Leann
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Stephanie N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hagensee
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Alison J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Quayle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; C078167:OMPA outer membrane proteins
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