Alveolar epithelial cells type II are major target cells for C. pneumoniae in chronic but not in acute respiratory infection

Jan Rupp*, Daniel Droemann, Torsten Goldmann, Peter Zabel, Werner Solbach, Ekkehard Vollmer, Detlev Branscheid, Klaus Dalhoff, Matthias Maass

*Corresponding author for this work
22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Pulmonary presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae is associated with acute and chronic infections. We show that unapparent chlamydial infection in four out of 31 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients (12.9%) is characterized by a significant increase in infected alveolar epithelial cells type II (18.2±3.5% vs. 2.3±0.9; IHC/ISH) compared to a newly established model of acute chlamydial infection (ACIM) in vital lung specimens from pulmonary lobectomy. Expression of cHSP60 demonstrated pathogen viability and virulence in the ACIM. We conclude that target cells differ in acute and chronic chlamydial infection and suggest the ACIM as a novel tool to analyze the host-pathogen-interactions in acute respiratory infections.

Original languageEnglish
JournalFEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology
Volume41
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)197-203
Number of pages7
ISSN0928-8244
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.07.2004

Research Areas and Centers

  • Academic Focus: Center for Infection and Inflammation Research (ZIEL)

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