Innate immunity in the male genital tract: Chlamydia trachomatis induces keratinocyte-derived chemokine production in prostate, seminal vesicle and epididymis/vas deferens primary cultures.
Chlamydia trachomatis is an intracellular pathogen that infects mucosal epithelial cells, causing persistent infections. Although chronic inflammation is a hallmark of chlamydial disease, the proinflammatory mechanisms involved are poorly understood. Little is known about how innate immunity in the male genital tract (MGT) responds to C. trachomatis. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a family of receptors of the innate immunity that recognize different pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) present in bacteria, viruses, yeasts and parasites. The study of TLR expression in the MGT has been poorly investigated. The aim of this work was to investigate the keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC) response of MGT primary cultures from C57BL/6 mice to C. trachomatis and different PAMPs. KC production by prostate, seminal vesicle and epididymis/vas deferens cell cultures was determined by ELISA in culture supernatants. TLR2, 3, 4 and 9 agonists induced the production of KC by all MGT primary cultures assayed. In addition, we analysed the host response against C. trachomatis and Chlamydia muridarum. Chlamydial LPS (cLPS) as well as C. trachomatis and C. muridarum infection induced KC secretion by all MGT cell cultures analysed. Differences in KC levels were observed between cultures, suggesting specific sensitivity against pathogens among MGT tissues. Chemokine secretion was observed after stimulation of seminal vesicle cells with TLR agonists, cLPS and C. trachomatis. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing KC production by seminal vesicle cells after stimulation with TLR ligands, C. trachomatis or C. muridarum antigens. These results indicate that different receptors of the innate immunity are present in the MGT. Understanding specific immune responses, both innate and adaptive, against chlamydial infections, mounted in each tissue of the MGT, will be crucial to design new therapeutic approaches where innate and/or adaptive immunity would be targeted.
Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI-CONICET), Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre esq. Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, 5016 Córdoba, Argentina.
Juan Pablo
JP
Mackern-Oberti
Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI-CONICET), Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre esq. Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, 5016 Córdoba, Argentina.
Mariana
M
Maccioni
Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI-CONICET), Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre esq. Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, 5016 Córdoba, Argentina.
Maria Laura
ML
Breser
Henry Wellcome Laboratories for Medical Research, Department of Infection and Immunity, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK.
Adrian
A
Eley
Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Technische Universität München, Trogerstr. 30, 81675 München, Germany.
Thomas
T
Miethke
Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI-CONICET), Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre esq. Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, 5016 Córdoba, Argentina.
Virginia E
VE
Rivero
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D023502:Chlamydia muridarum / Q000276:immunology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000276:immunology*; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011467:Prostate / Q000276:immunology*; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000276:immunology*
D018925:Chemokines