Chlamydia trachomatis Infection of the Male Genital Tract: an Update

MACKERN OBERTI, JP; MOTRICH, RD; BRESER, ML; SANCHEZ, L; CUFFINI, C; RIVERO, VE

JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY.

ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2013 vol. 100 p. 37 - 53

0165-0378

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most prevalent cause of sexually transmitted diseases. Although the prevalence of chlamydial infection is similar between males and females, current research and screening are still focused on females who develop most severe complications, leaving the study of male genital tract (MGT) infection underrated. Herein, we review the literature on genital CT infection with special focus on the MGT. Data indicate that CT certainly infects different parts of MGT such as urethra, seminal vesicles, prostate, epididymis and testis. However It is still controversial if CT infection has detrimental effects on male fertility. Most important features of CT infection are its chronic nature and the presence of a mild inflammation that remain subclinical in most individuals. Chlamydia antigens and pathogen recognition receptors (PRR) expressed on epithelial cells and immune cells from MGT have been studied in the last years. TLRs expression was observed in testis, epididymis, the prostate and vas deferens. It has been shown that recognition of chlamydial antigens is associated with TLR2, TLR4 and possibly other PRRs. CT recognition by PRRs induces a local production of cytokines/chemokines which in turn provokes chronic inflammation that might evolve in the onset of an autoimmune process in genetically susceptible individuals. Understanding local immune response along MGT as well as the crosstalk between resident leukocytes, epithelial and stromal cells will be crucial to induce a protective immunity thus helping to the design of new therapeutic approaches for Chlamydia vaccine.