Chlamydia trachomatis induces expression of IFN-gamma-inducible protein 10 and IFN-beta independent of TLR2 and TLR4, but largely dependent on MyD88

J Immunol. 2005 Jul 1;175(1):450-60. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.175.1.450.

Abstract

IFN-gamma-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) is a chemokine important in the attraction of T cells, which are essential for resolution of chlamydial genital tract infection. During infections with Gram-negative bacteria, the IP-10 response mediated through type I IFNs usually occurs as a result of TLR4 stimulation by bacterial LPS. However, we found that levels of IP-10 in genital tract secretions of Chlamydia trachomatis-infected female wild-type mice were similar to those of infected TLR2- and TLR4-deficient mice but significantly greater than those of infected MyD88-deficient mice. We investigated the mechanism of IP-10 and IFN-beta induction during chlamydial infection using mouse macrophages and fibroblasts infected ex vivo. The induction of IP-10 and IFN-beta was unchanged in Chlamydia-infected TLR2- and TLR4-deficient cells compared with wild-type cells. However, infection of MyD88-deficient cells resulted in significantly decreased responses. These results suggest a role for MyD88-dependent pathways in induction of IP-10 and IFN-beta during chlamydial infection. Furthermore, treatment of infected macrophages with an endosomal maturation inhibitor significantly reduced chlamydial-induced IFN-beta. Because endosomal maturation is required for MyD88-dependent intracellular pathogen recognition receptors to function, our data suggest a role for the intracellular pathogen recognition receptor(s) in induction of IFN-beta and IP-10 during chlamydial infection. Furthermore, the intracellular pathways that lead to chlamydial-induced IFN-beta function through TANK-binding kinase mediated phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of IFN regulatory factor-3.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Differentiation / genetics
  • Antigens, Differentiation / metabolism*
  • Base Sequence
  • Chemokine CXCL10
  • Chemokines, CXC / biosynthesis*
  • Chemokines, CXC / genetics*
  • Chlamydia Infections / genetics
  • Chlamydia Infections / immunology
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / immunology*
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / pathogenicity*
  • DNA / genetics
  • Endosomes / immunology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Interferon-beta / biosynthesis*
  • Interferon-beta / genetics*
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Receptors, Immunologic / deficiency
  • Receptors, Immunologic / genetics
  • Receptors, Immunologic / metabolism*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • Chemokine CXCL10
  • Chemokines, CXC
  • Myd88 protein, mouse
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • Tlr2 protein, mouse
  • Tlr4 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Interferon-beta
  • Interferon-gamma
  • DNA