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Filardo S, Di Pietro M, Bozzuto G, Fracella M, Bitossi C, Molinari A, Scagnolari C, Antonelli G, Sessa R. Interferon-ε as potential inhibitor of Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Microb Pathog 2023; 185:106427. [PMID: 37890679 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis, the main cause of bacterial sexually transmitted diseases, is responsible for severe reproductive sequelae. Amongst all the cytokines involved in host immunity towards this pathogen, IFN-ε has recently acquired importance for its potential contribution to the female reproductive tract innate defenses. Herein, our study aimed to explore, for the first time, the activity of IFN-ε toward C. trachomatis in an in vitro infection model, by testing its effects on the different phases of chlamydial developmental cycle, as well as on the ultrastructural characteristics of chlamydial inclusions, via transmission electron microscopy. Main result is the capability of IFN-ε to alter C. trachomatis growth, as suggested by reduced infectious progenies, as well as a patchy distribution of bacteria and altered morphology of reticulate bodies within inclusions. In conclusion, our results suggest that IFN-ε could play a role in the innate and adaptive immune defenses against C. trachomatis; in the future, it will be needed to investigate its activity on an infection model more closely resembling the physiological environment of the female genital tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Filardo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Section of Microbiology, Sapienza University, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Marisa Di Pietro
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Section of Microbiology, Sapienza University, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Giuseppina Bozzuto
- National Centre for Drug Research and Evaluation, Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Matteo Fracella
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology, Sapienza University, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale di Porta Tiburtina, 28, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Camilla Bitossi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology, Sapienza University, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale di Porta Tiburtina, 28, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Agnese Molinari
- National Centre for Drug Research and Evaluation, Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Carolina Scagnolari
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology, Sapienza University, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale di Porta Tiburtina, 28, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Guido Antonelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology, Sapienza University, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale di Porta Tiburtina, 28, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Rosa Sessa
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Section of Microbiology, Sapienza University, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
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Better In Vitro Tools for Exploring Chlamydia trachomatis Pathogenesis. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:life12071065. [PMID: 35888153 PMCID: PMC9323215 DOI: 10.3390/life12071065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Currently, Chlamydia trachomatis still possesses a significant impact on public health, with more than 130 million new cases each year, alongside a high prevalence of asymptomatic infections (approximately 80% in women and 50% in men). C. trachomatis infection involves a wide range of different cell types, from cervical epithelial cells, testicular Sertoli cells to Synovial cells, leading to a broad spectrum of pathologies of varying severity both in women and in men. Several two-dimensional in vitro cellular models have been employed for investigating C. trachomatis host–cell interaction, although they present several limitations, such as the inability to mimic the complex and dynamically changing structure of in vivo human host-tissues. Here, we present a brief overview of the most cutting-edge three-dimensional cell-culture models that mimic the pathophysiology of in vivo human tissues and organs for better translating experimental findings into a clinical setting. Future perspectives in the field of C. trachomatis research are also provided.
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Filardo S, Di Pietro M, Sessa R. Towards a Deeper Understanding of Chlamydia trachomatis Pathogenetic Mechanisms: Editorial to the Special Issue " Chlamydia trachomatis Pathogenicity and Disease". Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073943. [PMID: 35409301 PMCID: PMC8999411 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis, an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium, is characterized by a wide range of different serotypes responsible for several local or systemic human diseases, including genital tract manifestations (D-K), trachoma (A-C), and lymphogranuloma venereum (L1-3) [...].
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Filardo S, Di Pietro M, Diaco F, Sessa R. In Vitro Modelling of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection in the Etiopathogenesis of Male Infertility and Reactive Arthritis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:840802. [PMID: 35174109 PMCID: PMC8841781 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.840802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate, intracellular bacterium responsible for a range of diseases of public health importance, since C. trachomatis infection is often asymptomatic and, hence, untreated, leading to chronic complications, including prostatitis, infertility, and reactive arthritis. The ample spectrum of diseases caused by C. trachomatis infection is reflected in its ability to infect and multiply within a wide range of different cell types. Cervical epithelial cells, to date, have been the most studied cellular infection model, highlighting the peculiar features of the host-cell inflammatory and immune responses to the infection. Herein, we provide the up-to-date evidence on the interaction between C. trachomatis and human prostate epithelial, Sertoli and synovial cells.
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