Chlamydial lipopolysaccharide (cLPS) is present in atherosclerotic and aneurysmal arterial wall--cLPS levels depend on disease manifestation.
BACKGROUND
The role of Chlamydia pneumoniae in peripheral atherosclerosis disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) remains unclear. Chlamydial lipopolysaccharide (cLPS) detection is a method used conventionally in routine chlamydial diagnosis of gynecological or ophthalmic samples.


METHODS
We compared cLPS concentrations, as well as other markers of bacterial load, in plaques and sera of patients operated on for carotid artery stenosis (n=110), aorto-occlusive disease (n=22), or AAAs (n=50) at the Helsinki University Central Hospital.


RESULTS
The median levels of cLPS in plaques were 2.28, 0.80, and 0.29 ng/ml in AAA, aorto-occlusive disease, and carotid artery stenosis patients, respectively (P<.001, Kruskal-Wallis). cLPS in serum correlated with LPS binding protein levels (Spearman's rho=0.52, P<.001), suggesting that the presence of chlamydiae is sufficient to produce an innate immune response reaction in these patients. Serum inflammatory markers interleukin 6 and highly sensitive C-reactive protein also correlate with cLPS (Spearman's rho=0.42 and 0.51, respectively, P<.001).


CONCLUSIONS
cLPS is present in arterial disease, and the potential role of C. pneumoniae in the pathogenesis of both peripheral atherosclerosis disease and AAA should not be forgotten. cLPS has a positive correlation with serum inflammatory markers, but this is no proof of a causal association.
Vikatmaa
Pirkka
P
Department of Vascular Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. pirkka.vikatmaa@hus.fi
Lajunen
Taina
T
Ikonen
Tuija S
TS
Pussinen
Pirkko J
PJ
Lepäntalo
Mauri
M
Leinonen
Maija
M
Saikku
Pekka
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D002689:Chlamydia; D002694:Chlamydiaceae Infections / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides