title: Blockade of epithelial membrane protein 2 (EMP2) abrogates infection of Chlamydia muridarum murine genital infection model.
abstract: New methods are needed to eradicate or prevent Chlamydia trachomatis infections. Blockade of epithelial membrane protein 2 (EMP2) by genetic silencing or neutralizing polyclonal antibody reduced chlamydial infectivity in vitro. This study tests the prediction that recombinant anti-EMP2 diabody could reduce early chlamydial infection of the genital tract in vivo. In a murine infection model, pretreatment with anti-EMP2 diabody, as compared with control diabody, significantly reduced bacterial load, tissue production of inflammatory cytokines, recruitment of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and local tissue inflammation. These findings support EMP2 as a potential preventative and therapeutic target for genital chlamydial infection.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimazaki
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Raymond J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Moniz
authors.forename: Madhuri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wadehra
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.forename: Catherine P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Coulam
authors.forename: Sergey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mareninov
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Lepin
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Lynn K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D023502:Chlamydia muridarum / Q000276:immunology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C113388:Emp2 protein, mouse; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins