Association of tubal factor infertility with elevated antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis caseinolytic protease P.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to assess antibodies against Chlamydia trachomatis heat shock proteins (HSP) in patients with tubal factor infertility (TFI), infertility controls (IFC), and fertile controls (FC). HSPs assist organisms in surviving caustic environments such as heat.


METHODS
Twenty-one TFI, 15 IFC, and 29 FC patients were enrolled after laparoscopic tubal assessment. The titers of antibodies against C trachomatis organisms and 14 chlamydial HSPs were compared among the 3 groups.


RESULTS
TFI patients developed significantly higher levels of antibodies against C trachomatis and specifically recognizing chlamydial HSP60 and caseinolytic protease (Clp) P, a subunit of the ATP-dependent Clp protease complex involved in the degradation of abnormal proteins.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to confirming high titers of antibodies against C trachomatis organisms and HSP60 in TFI patients, we identified a novel link of TFI with anti-ClpP antibodies. These findings may provide useful information for developing a noninvasive screening test for TFI and constructing subunit anti-C trachomatis vaccines.
Rodgers
Allison K
AK
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229,USA.
Wang
Jie
J
Zhang
Yingqian
Y
Holden
Alan
A
Berryhill
Blake
B
Budrys
Nicole M
NM
Schenken
Robert S
RS
Zhong
Guangming
G
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018834:Chaperonin 60 / Q000276:immunology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology*; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005184:Fallopian Tube Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D018834:Chaperonin 60; D010450:Endopeptidases