title: Modulation of the Chlamydia trachomatis in vitro transcriptome response by the sex hormones estradiol and progesterone.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chlamydia trachomatis is a major cause of sexually transmitted disease in humans. Previous studies in both humans and animal models of chlamydial genital tract infection have suggested that the hormonal status of the genital tract epithelium at the time of exposure can influence the outcome of the chlamydial infection. We performed a whole genome transcriptional profiling study of C. trachomatis infection in ECC-1 cells under progesterone or estradiol treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both hormone treatments caused a significant shift in the sub-set of genes expressed (25% of the transcriptome altered by more than 2-fold). Overall, estradiol treatment resulted in the down-regulation of 151 genes, including those associated with lipid and nucleotide metabolism. Of particular interest was the up-regulation in estradiol-supplemented cultures of six genes (omcB, trpB, cydA, cydB, pyk and yggV), which suggest a stress response similar to that reported previously in other models of chlamydial persistence. We also observed morphological changes consistent with a persistence response. By comparison, progesterone supplementation resulted in a general up-regulation of an energy utilising response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data shows for the first time, that the treatment of chlamydial host cells with key reproductive hormones such as progesterone and estradiol, results in significantly altered chlamydial gene expression profiles. It is likely that these chlamydial expression patterns are survival responses, evolved by the pathogen to enable it to overcome the host's innate immune response. The induction of chlamydial persistence is probably a key component of this survival response.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia.
authors.forename: Ashkan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amirshahi
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beagley
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Latter
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Symonds
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Timms
mesh_terms: D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol