Open AccessCross-Reactivity between Chlamydia trachomatis Heat Shock Protein 10 and Early Pregnancy Factor
Author(s) -
Fay Betsou,
José Carlos Cardoso,
Nicolas Guillaume,
M A Catry,
Sandra Romão,
J. A. Machado-Caetano,
Jean Marie Sueur,
J E Mention,
N Faille,
J Orfila
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
clinical and vaccine immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.649
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1556-6811
pISSN - 1556-679X
DOI - 10.1128/cdli.10.3.446-450.2003
Subject(s) - chlamydia trachomatis , tubal factor infertility , antibody , pregnancy , infertility , chlamydiales , chlamydiaceae , immunology , heat shock protein , biology , genetics , gene
Chlamydia trachomatis heat shock protein 10 (Chsp10) is associated with chronic genital tract infection with C. trachomatis. Chsp10 is homologous to human chaperonin 10 (Cpn10) and early pregnancy factor (EPF), a form of human Cpn10 that is specifically secreted at the start of pregnancy. We investigated cross-reactions between serum anti-Chsp10 antibodies and anti-EPF antibodies in pregnant and nonpregnant patients. Pregnancy was found to be associated with the presence of anti-EPF antibodies, which are specifically induced in pregnant women with a history of C. trachomatis infection, and with the presence of serum anti-Chsp10 antibodies. We also found that infertility was associated with the presence of anti-Chsp10 and anti-EPF antibodies. The HLA class II haplotype DR8 DQ4 was associated with the presence of anti-Chsp10 antibodies but not of anti-EPF antibodies.