The Study of Chlamydia Pneumoniae DNA in the Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell of Coronary Heart Disease

Objectives To detection of chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) DNA in the circulating mononuclear cell fractions of coronary heart disease and to investigate the association between infection with chlamydia pneumoniae and coronary heart disease (CHD) and prospectively whether blood - based nes- ted polymerase chain reaction(nPCR ) is useful in i- dentifying Cpn infection. Methods The peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) Cpn DNA was exam- ined using nPCR technique and confirmed by electro- phoresis in 150 patients with CHD. Select 55 patients with clinical suspected CHD but angiography result are normal as control group (CG). Then we conducted a prospective , randomized, double - blind, placebo - controlled study of 6 months of azithromycin and place- bo treatment in CHD group. Patients with Cpn DNA positive were then randomized to receive azithromycin or placebo. After treatment blood sample were collect- ed for repeated measurement . Results Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA was detected in 49(32. 7% ) of 150 persons with CHD and in 1 (1. 8% ) of 55 persons with control group,odds ratio 26. 2, 95% confidence interva 13. 52 - 194. 98. The positivity rates of nPCR in CHD groups were higher than those in control group. 16 ca- ses (29. 1%) in latent coronary heart diseases (LCHD)group , 19 cases (39.6%) in unstable angi- na(UAP) group ,and 14 cases (29.9% ) in acute my- ocardial infarction (AMI) group were Cpn positive by nPCR. There were no significant difference among in AMI^UAP and LCHD group. There were significiantdifference in Cpn DNA negative rates after the azithro- mycin and the placebo treatment. Conclusions Chlamydia pneumoniae is present in PBMC of a signifi- cant proportion of persons with CHD. The potential role of chlamydia pneumoniae in coronary atherosclerosis may therefore be more related to acceleration of disease or systemic effects by persistent infection than to sud- den initiation of progressive coronary artery disease by acute infection. The detection of Cpn DNA in PBMC with nPCR may be of great value for identifying Cpn carriers and for monitoring antichlamydial therapy.

The Role of Chlamydia pneumoniae in the Atherosclerotic Process of Patients under 50 Years of Age Who Underwent Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Background: To evaluate the presence of C. pneumoniae DNA in the tissues and C. pneumoniae DNA antibodies in the blood samples of patients who underwent CABG surgery. Material and Methods: Fifty-one patients aorta. C. pneumoniae DNA was evaluated in the tissues collected from the atrium, left internal thoracic artery and ascending aorta of patients. Results: Although, C. pneumoniae DNA was negative in the atrial and left internal thoracic artery tissues of all patients, it was positive in the tissues obtained from the ascending aortas of twelve patients. C. pneumoniae DNA positivity was significantly higher in patients with increased aortic intimal thickness compared to those without increased aortic thickness. Conclusion: The question whether C. pneumoniae is triggering atherosclerosis or is involved as a super-infection could not be clarified.

The pathogenesis of Chlamydia pneumoniae-type pneumonitis in mice

Objective To evaluate mice as experimental animals for Chlamydia pneumoniae (C.pneumoniae) infection and investigate the pathogenesis of C.pneumoniae derived pneumonitis.Methods Icr mice were inoculated with the C.pneumoniae strain, CWL-029, either intranasally or intravenously. After a single dose inoculation, mice were killed on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th and 60th days. The pathological changes in lung tissue were analyzed.Results The Icr mice were shown to be susceptible to C.pneumoniae. Inoculation into mice with C.pneumoniae induced a prolonged course of lung infection, as demonstrated by persistence of lung pathology (up to 60 days). Via intranasal inoculation of mice, lung pathology was characterized by patchy interstitial pneumonitis with predominately neutrophil leukocyte infiltration early (within the first 7 days) and lymphocyte infiltration in the later stages (14 days later) of infection. After intravenous inoculation, a similarly developed interstitial pneumonitis was observed, but it was milder and patchier, especially in early stages. C.pneumoniae DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) intermittently in the lung tissue. Inoculated mice developed serum IgG antibody responses.Conclusion The Icr mice were susceptible to C.pneumoniae, resulting in a pulmonary infection characterized by interstitial pneumonitis, occurring most strongly via intranasal inoculation.

Detection of Chlamydia pneumonia DNA in nasopharyngolaryngeal swab samples from patients with rhinitis and pharyngolaryngitis with polymerase chain reaction

Objective To assess the prevalence of Chlamydia pneumomia DNA in patients with otolaryngic disease Methods PCR assay was used to detect Chlamydia pneumonia specific Pst Ⅰ 474 fragment DNA in swabs from patients with acute or subacute pharyngolaryngitis or rhinitis and sinusitis C pneumonia specific antibodies in sera were also assayed with microimmuno fluoresence (MIF) Results About 28% (49/175) of the patients were PCR positive and 25 7%(45/175) were MIF antibodies positive The accordance rate of the two methods was 91 8% Conclusion It is suggested that the C pneumonia infection was common in this group of patients and the C pneumonia Pst Ⅰ474 specific PCR was sensitive and specific for detecting C pneumonia in pharyngolaryngitis or rhinitis and sinusitis