Resolution of secondary Chlamydia trachomatis genital tract infection in immune mice with depletion of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells

Infect Immun. 2001 Apr;69(4):2643-9. doi: 10.1128/IAI.69.4.2643-2649.2001.

Abstract

The essential role of T cells in the resolution of primary murine Chlamydia trachomatis genital tract infection is inarguable; however, much less is known about the mechanisms that confer resistance to reinfection. We previously established that CD4+ T cells and B cells contribute importantly to resistance to reinfection. In our current studies, we demonstrate that immune mice concurrently depleted of both CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells resisted reinfection as well as immunocompetent wild-type mice. The in vivo depletion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells resulted in diminished chlamydia-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity responses, but antichlamydial antibody responses were unaffected. Our data indicate that immunity to chlamydial genital tract reinfection does not rely solely upon immune CD4+ or CD8+ T cells and further substantiate a predominant role for additional effector immune responses, such as B cells, in resistance to chlamydial genital tract reinfection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Chlamydia Infections / immunology*
  • Chlamydia trachomatis*
  • Female
  • Genital Diseases, Female / immunology*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / etiology
  • Lymphocyte Depletion*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL