Ovine trophoblast is a primary source of TNFalpha during Chlamydophila abortus infection.

Wheelhouse, Nick; Wattegedera, Sean; Stanton, James; Maley, Stephen; Watson, Donna; Jepson, Catherine; Deane, David; Buxton, David; Longbottom, David; Baszler, Tim; Entrican, Gary

Abstract

Chlamydophila abortus is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium that causes infectious abortion in sheep (ovine enzootic abortion, OEA) and humans. Infected placentas recovered from sheep that experience OEA have thickened membranes, contain dense inflammatory cellular infiltrates and show evidence of intravascular thrombosis. Despite widespread inflammation, chlamydial multiplication is restricted to the chorionic trophoblast cells. To investigate the potential role of trophoblast in the initiation and propagation of placental inflammation during OEA, the AH-1 ovine trophoblast cell line was experimentally infected with C. abortus and analysed for the release of pro-inflammatory mediators. C. abortus was found to induce the release of both tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) and CXCL8 (interleukin-8) from AH-1 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Ultra-violet (UV)-killed organisms did not elicit this profile, indicating that intracellular multiplication of C. abortus was required for release of these pro-inflammatory mediators. Exposure of AH-1 cells to recombinant ovine TNFalpha alone resulted in the release of CXCL8, suggestive of a self-propagating inflammatory cytokine and chemokine cascade. These data indicate a primary role for trophoblast in the initiation and propagation of placental inflammation during chlamydial abortion.

Citation

Wheelhouse, N., Wattegedera, S., Stanton, J., Maley, S., Watson, D., Jepson, C., Deane, D., Buxton, D., Longbottom, D., Baszler, T., & Entrican, G. (2009). Ovine trophoblast is a primary source of TNFalpha during Chlamydophila abortus infection. Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 80(1-2), 49-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jri.2008.12.003

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 11, 2008
• Online Publication Date: Apr 9, 2009
• Publication Date: 2009-06
• Deposit Date: Jul 21, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Reproductive Immunology
• Print ISSN: 0165-0378
• Electronic ISSN: 1872-7603
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 80
• Issue: 1-2
• Pages: 49-56
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jri.2008.12.003
• Keywords: Trophoblast, chlamydophila abortus, TNFα, CXCL8, infectious abortion,
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/304754
• Related Public URLs: http://ac.els-cdn.com/S0165037809000424/1-s2.0-S0165037809000424-main.pdf?_tid=39dc07d4-b5e9-11e5-bae9-00000aab0f6c&acdnat=1452245080_832e7f58423215f476806632d123dd51