Lymphotoxin inhibits Chlamydia pneumoniae growth in HEp-2 cells

Infect Immun. 1999 Jun;67(6):3175-9. doi: 10.1128/IAI.67.6.3175-3179.1999.

Abstract

Cytokines such as gamma interferon and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibit the intracellular replication of Chlamydia pneumoniae or Chlamydia trachomatis. In this study, we found that another cytokine, lymphotoxin (TNF-beta), restricts the growth of C. pneumoniae in HEp-2 cells. When lymphotoxin (10 U/ml) was added during incubation from 8 to 16 h postinoculation, inclusion body formation was severely reduced. In addition, we observed activation of nitric oxide production and the nuclear transition of NF-kappaB in HEp-2 cells in response to lymphotoxin. These results suggest that inhibition of chlamydial growth by lymphotoxin is mediated, at least in part, by nuclear transition of NF-kappaB, resulting in induction of nitric oxide synthase to produce nitric oxide, a potent bacteristatic agent. This is the first report on antichlamydial activity of lymphotoxin through induction of nitric oxide.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / metabolism
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Chlamydophila pneumoniae / drug effects*
  • Chlamydophila pneumoniae / growth & development
  • Cricetinae
  • Humans
  • Lymphotoxin-alpha / metabolism
  • Lymphotoxin-alpha / pharmacology*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide / physiology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Lymphotoxin-alpha
  • NF-kappa B
  • Nitric Oxide