Estrogens modulates the expression of Rabs proteins in endometrial cells infected with Chlamydia trachomatis

LEIVA N; DAMIANI MT; NOLLY M; SANCHEZ D

Mendoza

Congreso; XXXVI REUNIÓN CIENTIFICA ANUAL DE LA SOCIEDAD DE BIOLOGÍA DE CUYO; 2018

Estrogens modulates the expression of Rabs proteins in endometrial cells infected with Chlamydia trachomatis Leiva N, Nolly M, Sánchez D, Damiani MT. Laboratorio de Bioquímica e Inmunidad. Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Mendoza. Argentina. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) are highly prevalent pathologies. There are more than 30 bacteria, viruses and parasites that can cause sexually transmitted infections. Among them, Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most frequent STD bacterial causing agent worldwide. It is an obligate intracellular Gram negative bacterium that multiplies in a non acidic, non degradative, single vacuole called ?body inclusion?. This bacterium avoids degradation in the phagolysosomal pathway, and at the same time obtains nutrients from the host cell. CT alters vesicular transport by the sequestration of certain host traffic controllers such as Rab proteins. In addition, chlamydial infections mainly affect women on reproductive age. Thus, sexual hormones may play a role in CT infection course. At present moment, it is unknown whether estrogen could regulate Rab protein expression and/or function and their effectors in CT-infected cells. We have analyzed whether the expression and/or localization of Rab11, 14 and its interacting protein FIP2 could be affected by sexual hormones in CT-infected cells, using advanced confocal microscopy, Western blot and Real Time PCR techniques. Our results show that hormonal microenvironment impacts on chlamydial infection course, Rab proteins and its effectors. These findings could open a new scenario that justifies the use of novel therapeutical approaches for the treatment of chlamydial infections.