Infection and Activation of Airway Epithelial Cells byChlamydia pneumoniae

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The activation of primary human airway epithelial cells (HAECs) and of the bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B by Chlamydia pneumoniae, an important respiratory pathogen, was characterized. A time-dependent enhanced release of interleukin (IL)—8 and prostaglandin-E2 and an increased expression of the epithelial adhesion molecule intercellular adhesion molecule—1 (ICAM-1), followed by subsequent transepithelial migration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), were also demonstrated. The transepithelial PMN migration could be blocked by an anti—ICAM-1 monoclonal antibody (MAb) but not by MAbs against IL-8. In addition, there was an enhanced C. pneumoniae—mediated activation of NF-κB within 30–60 min in HAECs and BEAS-2B, which was followed by increases in mRNA synthesis of IL-8, ICAM-1, and cyclooxygenase-2, with maximal effects occurring 2 h after infection. Thus, C. pneumoniae infects and activates HAECs and BEAS-2B and therefore may be able to trigger a cascade of pro- and anti-inflammatory reactions during chlamydial infections.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: