[Induction of IL-8 by Chlamydia trachomatis through MAPK pathway rather than NF-kappaB pathway].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the signaling pathway required for Chlamydial induction of IL-8 expression in epithelial cells.


METHODS
The production and localization of IL-8 in Chlamydia-infected Hela 229 cells were monitored using Western blot, immunoflourescence, and ELISA. Activation of MAPK and NF-kappaB signaling pathways were detected by Western blot and immunoflourescence. The effect of different signaling pathways on Chlamydia-induced Il-8 was measured by experiments of chemical inhibitors.


RESULTS
IL-8 was induced by Chlamydia and was time-dependant. Chlamydial infection activated MAPK/ERK and MAPK/p38 pathways but not NF-kappaB pathway. Chlamydial induction of IL-8 was blocked by small molecule inhibitors targeting the ERK and p38 pathways.


CONCLUSIONS
Chlamydia-induced IL-8 in cervical epithelial cells, the natural target cell type of Chlamydia trachomatis infection, is dependent on MAPK pathway but not NF-kappaB pathway, which provides important information for further understanding the molecular mechanism of Chlamydia-induced inflammatory pathologies.
Chen
Fan
F
Department of Cardiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
Cheng
Wen
W
Zhang
Saidan
S
Zhong
Guangming
G
Yu
Ping
P
D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000378:metabolism; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000502:physiology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; D016209:Interleukin-8; D016328:NF-kappa B; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases