Trophoblast infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae and adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with placental dysfunction.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine whether Chlamydia pneumoniae impairs invasive trophoblast function and is associated with preeclampsia.


METHODS
We conducted cell viability and invasion assays using primary extravillous trophoblast cells isolated from first-trimester placentas. We performed a case-control study to identify C pneumoniae in trophoblast cells dissected by laser capture microscopy from placentas in women with severe preeclampsia and control subjects who delivered at term.


RESULTS
Trophoblast cell viability and invasion through extracellular matrices were decreased after infection with C pneumoniae (both P < .05). C pneumoniae DNA was detected in trophoblast cells in 15/48 cases but only 3/30 controls (odds ratio, 4.1; P = .02). Positive and negative controls yielded expected results.


CONCLUSIONS
C pneumoniae infection can reduce trophoblast invasion into the uterine wall and is associated with preeclampsia. Further investigation of the mechanisms by which C pneumoniae induces trophoblast dysfunction, and the identification of therapies to prevent adverse outcomes attributed to trophoblast dysfunction, are warranted.
Maternal and Child Research Program, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Luis M
LM
Gomez
Samuel
S
Parry
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult