title: Chlamydial lipopolysaccharide (cLPS) is present in atherosclerotic and aneurysmal arterial wall--cLPS levels depend on disease manifestation.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. pirkka.vikatmaa@hus.fi
authors.forename: Pirkka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vikatmaa
authors.forename: Taina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lajunen
authors.forename: Tuija S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Ikonen
authors.forename: Pirkko J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Pussinen
authors.forename: Mauri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lepäntalo
authors.forename: Maija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leinonen
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saikku
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides