Poly-immunoglobulin receptor-mediated transport of IgA into the male genital tract is important for clearance of Chlamydia muridarum infection.
OBJECTIVE
Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide. While infection in females requires a Th1 response for clearance, such a response in males may disrupt the immune privileged nature of the male reproductive tract, potentially contributing to infertility.


METHODS
We investigated the role of IgA in protection against an intrapenile Chlamydia muridarum infection of C57BL/6 and pIgR-/- mice.


RESULTS
Here, we show that the poly immunoglobulin receptor is the main pathway for IgA transport into the male reproductive tract. The high levels of IgA seen in prostatic fluid of wild-type mice correlate with reduction in chlamydial infection both in vitro and in vivo.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that a Chlamydia vaccine that induces neutralizing IgA in the prostate will aid in the protection against infection in males.
Cunningham
Kelly A
KA
Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
Carey
Alison J
AJ
Finnie
Jane M
JM
Bao
Shisan
S
Coon
Charmere
C
Jones
Russell
R
Wijburg
Odilia
O
Strugnell
Richard A
RA
Timms
Peter
P
Beagley
Kenneth W
KW
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D023502:Chlamydia muridarum / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011467:Prostate / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D019056:Receptors, Polymeric Immunoglobulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D016207:Cytokines; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D019056:Receptors, Polymeric Immunoglobulin