Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
4
pubmed:dateCreated
2000-4-27
pubmed:abstractText
Linkage between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and atherosclerosis has been confirmed in several studies, but the precise role of this organism in the disease process is not known. We investigated the relation and reactivity of T lymphocytes of human carotid plaques to C pneumoniae antigens. Tissue specimens were obtained from 17 patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy. Immunohistological staining and/or in situ hybridization revealed the presence of C pneumoniae in 11 (64%) of the 17 of the cases. Inflammatory infiltration seen in the vessel walls consisted primarily of CD45RO+ T-memory lymphocytes (median 80%, range 50% to 90%), whereas CD20+ B cells and monocytes were in minor proportion. In vivo activated T lymphocytes were propagated from the specimens with interleukin-2, and the antigen specificity of the established T-cell lines (TLLs) was analyzed against C pneumoniae elementary body antigen. TLLs were established from all 17 carotid tissues but none from the control specimens of ascending aorta. C pneumoniae was recognized as a specific T-cell-stimulating antigen in 7 (41%) of 17 cases. Further analyses of the C pneumoniae-reactive TLLs showed that chlamydial 60-kDa heat-shock protein induced specific proliferation in 5 (71%) of 7 cases and revealed 2 haplotype (DRB1*1502 and DQB1*06) binding motifs in human 60-kDa heat-shock protein. C pneumoniae was identified as a specific microbial antigen recognized by 41% of TLLs propagated from in vivo activated plaque T cells. Our results suggests that cell-mediated immunity to C pneumoniae plays a role in the atherosclerotic process and that this response may involve autoimmunity.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Apr
pubmed:issn
1079-5642
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
20
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1061-7
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2000
pubmed:articleTitle
Detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae-reactive T lymphocytes in human atherosclerotic plaques of carotid artery.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Surgery, Oulu University Hospital, National Public Health Institute, Finland.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't