Chlamydia pneumoniae and hyperlipidemia are co-risk factors for atherosclerosis: infection prior to induction of hyperlipidemia does not accelerate development of atherosclerotic lesions in C57BL/6J mice

Infect Immun. 2002 Sep;70(9):5332-4. doi: 10.1128/IAI.70.9.5332-5334.2002.

Abstract

Chlamydia pneumoniae has been shown to accelerate atherosclerotic lesion development in hyperlipidemic animals. This study showed that C. pneumoniae did not accelerate lesion development in mice if a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet was started after infection, indicating that C. pneumoniae is a co-risk factor with hyperlipidemia for cardiovascular disease.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arteriosclerosis / etiology*
  • Chlamydia Infections / complications*
  • Chlamydophila pneumoniae / pathogenicity*
  • Diet, Atherogenic
  • Humans
  • Hyperlipidemias / complications*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors