Chlamydia pneumoniae hides inside apoptotic neutrophils to silently infect and propagate in macrophages

Jan Rupp*, Lisa Pfleiderer, Christiane Jugert, Sonja Moeller, Matthias Klinger, Klaus Dalhoff, Werner Solbach, Steffen Stenger, Tamas Laskay, Ger van Zandbergen

*Corresponding author for this work
33 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Intracellular pathogens have developed elaborate strategies for silent infection of preferred host cells. Chlamydia pneumoniae is a common pathogen in acute infections of the respiratory tract (e.g. pneumonia) and associated with chronic lung sequelae in adults and children. Within the lung, alveolar macrophages and polymorph nuclear neutrophils (PMN) are the first line of defense against bacteria, but also preferred host phagocytes of chlamydiae. Methodology/Principal Findings: We could show that C. pneumoniae easily infect and hide inside neutrophil granulocytes until these cells become apoptotic and are subsequently taken up by macrophages. C. pneumoniae infection of macrophages via apoptotic PMN results in enhanced replicative activity of chlamydiae when compared to direct infection of macrophages, which results in persistence of the pathogen. Inhibition of the apoptotic recognition of C. pneumoniae infected PMN using PS- masking Annexin A5 significantly lowered the transmission of chlamydial infection to macrophages. Transfer of apoptotic C. pneumoniae infected PMN to macrophages resulted in an increased TGF-β production, whereas direct infection of macrophages with chlamydiae was characterized by an enhanced TNF-α response. Conclusions/Significance: Taken together, our data suggest that C. pneumoniae uses neutrophil granulocytes to be silently taken up by long-lived macrophages, which allows for efficient propagation and immune protection within the human host.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere6020
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume4
Issue number6
ISSN1553-7390
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23.06.2009

Research Areas and Centers

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

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