Chlamydia psittaci Infection in nongastrointestinal extranodal MALT lymphomas and their precursor lesions

Am J Clin Pathol. 2011 Jan;135(1):70-5. doi: 10.1309/AJCPXMDRT1SY6KIV.

Abstract

Extranodal marginal zone lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) are associated with various infectious pathogens. We analyzed the presence of Chlamydia psittaci, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Chlamydia trachomatis DNA in 47 nongastrointestinal and 14 gastrointestinal MALT lymphomas, 37 nonmalignant control samples, and 27 autoimmune precursor lesions by polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct sequencing. In 47 nongastrointestinal MALT lymphomas, 13 (28%) were positive for C psittaci DNA compared with 4 (11%) of 37 nonmalignant control samples (P = .09). C psittaci was detected at variable frequencies in MALT lymphomas of different sites: lung, 100% (5/5; P < .01); thyroid gland, 30% (3/10; P > .05); salivary gland, 13% (2/15; P > .05); ocular adnexa, 15% (2/13); and skin, 25% (1/4). Of 27 autoimmune precursor lesions (11 Hashimoto thyroiditis and 16 Sjögren syndrome), 11 (41%) contained C psittaci DNA. Only 1 (7%) of 14 gastrointestinal MALT lymphomas was positive for C psittaci. All specimens were negative for C trachomatis and C pneumoniae. Besides ocular adnexal lymphomas, C psittaci infection is associated with nongastrointestinal MALT lymphomas and autoimmune precursor lesions, suggesting possible involvement of C psittaci-induced antigenic-driven MALT lymphomagenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Bacterial / analysis
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / genetics
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / immunology
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / isolation & purification
  • Chlamydophila pneumoniae / genetics
  • Chlamydophila pneumoniae / immunology
  • Chlamydophila pneumoniae / isolation & purification
  • Chlamydophila psittaci / genetics
  • Chlamydophila psittaci / immunology
  • Chlamydophila psittaci / isolation & purification*
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • Eye Neoplasms / microbiology*
  • Eye Neoplasms / pathology
  • Hashimoto Disease / blood
  • Hashimoto Disease / microbiology
  • Hashimoto Disease / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / blood
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / microbiology*
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / pathology
  • Psittacosis / blood
  • Psittacosis / diagnosis
  • Psittacosis / microbiology*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sjogren's Syndrome / blood
  • Sjogren's Syndrome / microbiology
  • Sjogren's Syndrome / pathology

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • DNA, Bacterial