Abstract
BackgroundChlamydia 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.ResultsBoth 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.ConclusionOur 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.
Highlights
Chlamydia trachomatis is a major cause of sexually transmitted disease in humans
Studies using animal models of genital tract Chlamydia infection suggest that the hormonal status of the genital tract epithelium at the time of exposure may influence the outcome of infection
The results reported from Gerard et al [18] indicated that during the primary phase of active infection, C. trachomatis obtain the energy essential for EB to RB transformation, and for metabolism, from host cells via ATP/ADP exchange
Summary
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. Studies using animal models of genital tract Chlamydia infection suggest that the hormonal status of the genital tract epithelium at the time of exposure may influence the outcome of infection. Oral contraceptive use increases the risk of contracting chlamydial infections compared to women not using contraception [10] These data show that the outcome of chlamydial infection is determined in part by the hormonal status of the epithelium at the time of exposure
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