Caspase-1 contributes to Chlamydia trachomatis-induced upper urogenital tract inflammatory pathologies without affecting the course of infection

Infect Immun. 2008 Feb;76(2):515-22. doi: 10.1128/IAI.01064-07. Epub 2007 Nov 19.

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis infection induces inflammatory pathologies in the upper genital tract, potentially leading to ectopic pregnancy and infertility in the affected women. Caspase-1 is required for processing and release of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-18, and possibly IL-33. In the present study, we evaluated the role of caspase-1 in chlamydial infection and pathogenesis. Although chlamydial infection induced caspase-1 activation and processing of IL-1beta, mice competent and mice deficient in caspase-1 experienced similar courses of chlamydial infection in their urogenital tracts, suggesting that Chlamydia-activated caspase-1 did not play a significant role in resolution of chlamydial infection. However, when genital tract tissue pathologies were examined, the caspase-1-deficient mice displayed much reduced inflammatory damage. The reduction in inflammation was most obvious in the fallopian tube tissue. These observations demonstrated that although caspase-1 is not required for controlling chlamydial infection, caspase-1-mediated responses can exacerbate the Chlamydia-induced inflammatory pathologies in the upper genital tract, suggesting that the host caspase-1 may be targeted for selectively attenuating chlamydial pathogenicity without affecting the host defense against chlamydial infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caspase 1 / deficiency
  • Caspase 1 / physiology*
  • Cell Line
  • Chlamydia Infections / pathology*
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / immunology*
  • Fallopian Tubes / pathology
  • Female
  • Genitalia, Female / microbiology*
  • Genitalia, Female / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / pathology*
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Uterus / pathology

Substances

  • Caspase 1