Innate immunity in male genital tract: Chlamydia trachomatis induces keratinocyte-derived chemokine production in prostate, seminal vesicle and epididymis-vas deferens primary cultures

MACKERN OBERTI, JUAN PABLO; MACCIONI, MARIANA; BRESER, MARÍA LAURA; ELEY, ADRIAN R; MIETHKLE, THOMAS; RIVERO, VIRGINIA ELENA

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY

SOC GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY

Año: 2010

0022-2615

Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is an intracellular pathogen that infects mucosal epithelial cells causing persistent infections. Although chronic inflammation is a hallmark in chlamydial disease, the proinflammatory mechanisms involved are poorly understood. Little is known about how innate immunity in the male genital tract responds to Ct. Toll like receptors (TLRs) are a family of receptors of the innate immunity that recognize different pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) present in bacteria, viruses, yeasts and parasites. The study of TLR expression in the male genital tract (MGT) has been poorly investigated. The aim of this work was to investigate the Keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC) response of male genital tract primary cultures from C57BL/6 mice in response to Ct and different PAMPs. Keratinocyte-derived chemokine production by prostate, seminal vesicle and epididymis-vas deferens cell cultures was determined by ELISA in culture supernatants. TLR2, 3, 4 and 9 agonists induced the production of KC by all MGT primary cultures assayed. In addition, we analyzed the host response against Ct and C. muridarum (Cm). Chlamydial LPS as well as Ct and Cm infection induced KC secretion by all MGT cell cultures analyzed. Differences in KC levels were observed between cultures suggesting specific sensitivity against pathogens among MGT tissues. Chemokine secretion was observed after stimulation of seminal vesicle cells with TLR agonists, cLPS and Ct. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing KC production by seminal vesicle cells after stimulation with TLR ligands, Ct or Cm antigens. These results indicate that different receptors of the innate immunity are present in MGT. Understanding specific immune responses, both, innate and adaptive, against chlamydial infections, mounted in each tissue of the MGT will be crucial to design new therapeutic approaches where innate and/or adaptive immunity would be targeted.