title: Apoptosis is induced in Chlamydia trachomatis-infected HEp-2 cells by the addition of a combination innate immune activation compounds and the inhibitor wedelolactone.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Innate immune activation of human cells, for some intracellular pathogens, is advantageous for vacuole morphology and pathogenic viability. It is unknown whether innate immune activation is advantageous to Chlamydia trachomatis viability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Innate immune activation of HEp-2 cells during Chlamydia infection was conducted using lipopolysaccharide (LPS), polyI:C, and wedelolactone (innate immune inhibitor) to investigate the impact of these conditions on viability of Chlamydia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The addition of LPS and polyI:C to stimulate activation of the two distinct innate immune pathways (nuclear factor kappa beta and interferon regulatory factor) had no impact on the viability of Chlamydia. However, when compounds targeting either pathway were added in combination with the specific innate immune inhibitor (wedelolactone) a major impact on Chlamydia viability was observed. This impact was found to be due to the induction of apoptosis of the HEp-2 cells under these conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first time that induction of apoptosis has been reported in C. trachomatis-infected cells when treated with a combination of innate immune activators and wedelolactone.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Life Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Qld, Australia. w.huston@qut.edu.au
authors.forename: Wilhelmina M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Huston
authors.forename: Sarina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gloeckl
authors.forename: Leonore
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Boer
authors.forename: Kenneth W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Beagley
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Timms
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D002460:Cell Line; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology; D003374:Coumarins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects*; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D050296:Microbial Viability; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003374:Coumarins; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; C051122:wedelolactone; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase