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Thromb Haemost 2009; 102(06): 1064-1070
DOI: 10.1160/TH09-06-0348
Theme Issue Article
Schattauer GmbH

Chlamydia pneumoniae adversely modulates vascular cell properties by direct interaction with signalling cascades

Jan Marco Kern
1   Institute of Medical Microbiology, Hygiene and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical Private University, Salzburg, Austria
,
Viola Maass
1   Institute of Medical Microbiology, Hygiene and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical Private University, Salzburg, Austria
,
Matthias Maass
1   Institute of Medical Microbiology, Hygiene and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical Private University, Salzburg, Austria
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 04 June 2009

Accepted after major revision: 05 November 2009

Publication Date:
28 November 2017 (online)

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Summary

Due to its dependence on intracellular development Chlamydia pneumoniae has developed numerous strategies to create an adequate environment within its host cells ensuring both chlamydial reproduction and target cell survival. The bacterium that has been related to atherogenesis due to its presence in vascular tissue is able to enter a persistent state of chronic infection in the vasculature that escapes antibiotic targeting. Ingestion of the bacterium results in severe modifications and reprogramming of signalling pathways and the metabolism of the host cell. Processes range from the prevention of direct lysosomal destruction of chlamydial inclusions to the inhibition of host cell apoptosis and an enhanced cellular glucose uptake to maintain energy-consuming mechanisms. Furthermore, infection regularly causes the development of a proinflammatory and proproliferative phenotype in the host cell in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo and own new findings suggest a detrimental proliferative loop within vascular cells upon a modified endothelin-1 axis demonstrating a potential for proatherosclerotic processes in early and progressed atherosclerosis. This review displays crucial mechanisms of Chlamydia pneumoniae-induced interactions with vascular host cell signalling cascades with an emphasis on mitogenic and inflammatory processes as well as target cell activation.

Keywords

Chlamydia pneumoniae - signal transduction - angiogenesis - inflammation - atherosclerosis
 

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