title: Dendritic cells (DCs) transfected with a recombinant adenovirus carrying chlamydial major outer membrane protein antigen elicit protective immune responses against genital tract challenge infection.
abstract: Chlamydia trachomatis, an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen, is the major cause of sexually transmitted diseases worldwide. Although a variety of strategies have been taken to promote the development of a protective vaccine, no ideal vaccine has been generated so far. In this study, we transfected dendritic cells (DCs) with recombinant adenovirus carrying C. trachomatis serovar E major outer membrane protein gene (Ad-MOMP), and investigated their ability to induce specific protection against genital tract chlamydial challenge infection. The results showed that when DCs were transfected with Ad-MOMP in vitro, the DCs exhibited increased expression of CD80 and MHC-II molecules as well as enhanced IL-12 secretion and were able to stimulate T-cell proliferation. The level of IFN-gamma secreted by stimulated T cells was also up-regulated significantly. When the Ad-MOMP transfected DCs were adoptively transferred intravenously to naive mice, they generated Th1-biased cytokine production and mucosal IgA responses specific for C. trachomatis. More importantly, the mice immunized with Ad-MOMP-DC mounted protection against genital tract challenge infection, shown by lower body mass loss, lower chlamydial loads, and less severe pathological changes. In conclusion, Ad-MOMP transfected DCs are capable of inducing effective protective immune responses against C. trachomatis genital infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Shandong Univeristy School of Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lü
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hong-Mei
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xiu-Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wei-Ming
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018272:Porins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D014162:Transfection; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D018272:Porins; C071677:omp1 protein, Chlamydia trachomatis