The Role ofChlamydia trachomatisPolymorphic Membrane Proteins in Inflammation and Sequelae among Women with Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Brandie D Taylor,Patrik M Bavoil,Catherine L Haggerty,Roberta B Ness,Toni Darville,Chun Tan

doi:10.1155/2011/989762

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis polymorphic membrane proteins (Pmps) may increase genital tract inflammation and play a role in virulence. Antibody levels for PmpA, PmpD, and PmpI, measured in densitometric units, were assessed among a pilot sample of 40 C. trachomatis-infected women with mild-to-moderate clinical PID. Women who expressed antibodies to PmpA were less likely to achieve pregnancy (40.0% versus 85.7%; P = 0.042) and less likely to have a live birth (0.0% versus 80.0%; P = 0.005) compared to women who did not express antibody to PmpA. Women who expressed antibodies to PmpI were more likely to have upper genital tract infection (61.5% versus 20.0%; P = 0.026). However, seropositivity to PmpI and PmpD did not modify the risk of reproductive sequelae or inflammation. Seropositivity to chlamydial PmpA may represent a biomarker of increased risk of sequelae secondary to infection with C. trachomatis.

Highlights

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the United States [1]
Seropositivity to chlamydial PmpA may represent a biomarker of increased risk of sequelae secondary to infection with C. trachomatis
C. trachomatis can ascend from the endocervix to the upper genital tract and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and serious reproductive morbidity including infertility and ectopic pregnancy [2]

Summary

Introduction

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the United States [1]. C. trachomatis can ascend from the endocervix to the upper genital tract and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and serious reproductive morbidity including infertility and ectopic pregnancy [2]. Some women clear chlamydial infection without tissue damage, while in some cases C. trachomatis induces a chronic low-grade infection [3]. This may lead to persistent inflammation of the upper genital tract causing long-term reproductive sequelae. The pathogenesis of C. trachomatis disease is not well-understood, and pathogenspecific virulence factors that may contribute to variability in the course and outcome of infection have not been identified

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