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Chlamydia pneumoniae Induces Interferon Gamma Responses in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Children with Allergic Asthma
Author(s) -
SmithNorowitz T. A.,
Weaver D.,
Chorny V.,
Norowitz Y. M.,
Lent D.,
Hammerschlag M. R.,
Joks R.,
Kohlhoff S.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/sji.12561
Subject(s) - peripheral blood mononuclear cell , chlamydia , immunology , peripheral blood , medicine , asthma , allergic asthma , interferon gamma , biology , cytokine , in vitro , biochemistry
Abstract Respiratory infections caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae have been associated with exacerbations of asthma. Cell‐mediated immunity ( CMI ) is critical for maintaining immunity. We compared interferon ( IFN )‐ γ responses in C. pneumoniae ‐infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( PBMC ) in paediatric patients ± asthma. Presence of C. pneumoniae was tested from asthma patients (N = 17) and non‐asthmatic controls ( N = 16) ( PCR ). PBMC were infected for 1 h ± C. pneumoniae AR ‐39 ( MOI = 0.1) and cultured for 48 h. IFN ‐ γ levels were measured in supernatants ( ELISA ). C. pneumoniae ‐IgG antibodies in serum were determined ( MIF ). All subjects tested negative for C. pneumoniae ( PCR ). C. pneumoniae ‐induced IFN ‐ γ production in vitro was more prevalent in asthma compared with non‐asthma; levels of IFN ‐ γ were higher in asthma compared with non‐asthma ( P = 0.003). There was no association between recent respiratory infection and positive IFN ‐ γ responses. These data show that C. pneumoniae modulates IFN ‐ γ responses in patients with asthma, even in absence of active infection.