Journal article
Modulation of the Chlamydia trachomatis in vitro transcriptome response by the sex hormones estradiol and progesterone
BMC Microbiology, Vol.11, 150
2011
Abstract
Background: 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. We performed a whole genome transcriptional profiling study of C. trachomatis infection in ECC-1 cells under progesterone or estradiol treatment. Results: Both 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. Conclusion: Our 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.
Details
- Title
- Modulation of the Chlamydia trachomatis in vitro transcriptome response by the sex hormones estradiol and progesterone
- Authors
- A Amirshahi (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyC Wan (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyK W Beagley (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyJ L Latter (Author) - University of MelbourneI Symonds (Author) - University of MelbournePeter Timms (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
- Publication details
- BMC Microbiology, Vol.11, 150; 9
- Publisher
- BioMed Central Ltd.
- Date published
- 2011
- DOI
- 10.1186/1471-2180-11-150
- ISSN
- 1471-2180; 1471-2180
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2011 Amirshahi et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99448890202621
- Output Type
- Journal article
- Research Statement
- false
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