Abstract
Monocytes (M) and kmacrophages are important components of the immune response to foreign agents. Using an in vitro system, we studied the influence of human M and M-derived macrophages (MdM) on the replication of Chlamydia trachomatis (L2/434) in HEp-2 cells. M or MdM were added to infected cells at a ratio of 4:1, and the resultant chlamydial yield was evaluated in one-step growth experiments. Chlamydia DNA production was evaluated by dot hybridization. Both M and MdM reduced chlamydial yield and DnNA production, but the reduction caused by MdM were more pronounced. Electron microscopy showed that while control HEp-2 cells at 48 h postinfection contained large inclusions in which most particles were elementary bodies, the infected HEp-2 cells exposed to MdM contained small vacuoles with abnormal reticulate bodies and very few typical elementary bodies. Separation of the MdM from the HEp-2 cells by a membrane reduced the inhibitory effect of the MdM relative to that of MdM in direct contact with the infected cells. Addition of tumor necrosis factor antibodies to C. trachomatis-infected HEp-2 cells exposed to MdM (either in direct contact or separated by a membrane from the infected cells) reduced the inhibition of chlamydial DNA production. These data suggest the possibility that MdM may modulate C. trachomatis replication in vivo.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 3280-3284 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Infection and Immunity |
Volume | 56 |
Issue number | 12 |
State | Published - 1 Jan 1988 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Parasitology
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases