title: Potential Therapy for Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Infections With Human Chorionic Gonadotropin.
abstract: The scientific evidence suggests that Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infects human fallopian tubes by molecular mimicry in which pathogens act like a ligand to bind to epithelial cell surface human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)/luteinizing hormone (LH) receptors. The hCG-like molecule has been identified as ribosomal protein L12 in NG coat surface. Human fallopian tube epithelial cells have been shown to contain functional hCG/LH receptors. As previously shown in human fallopian tube organ and cell culture studies, cellular invasion and infection can be prevented by exposing the cells to excess hCG, which would outnumber and outcompete NG for receptor binding. Based on these data, we suggest testing hCG in clinical trials on infected women.
authors: Departments of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Molecular and Human Genetics and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproduction and Development Program, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA crao@fiu.edu.
authors: C V
authors: CV
authors: Rao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011485:Protein Binding; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011974:Receptors, LH; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins
keywords: Neisseria gonorrhoeae; fallopian tubes; hCG/LH receptors; human chorionic gonadotropin