Acute ischemic brain stroke is associated with the consequences of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection

ABSTRACT

Ischemic brain Stroke is associated with chronic inflammation and elevation of several cytokines such as Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha [TNF-alpha] and Interleukin [IL]-8 [IL-8] which are correlated with CNS injury and stroke.Chlamydia pneumoniae [CP] was suggested to be an independent riskfactor for stroke. Atherosclerosis may be a manifestation of chronic or persistent CP infection in the atherosclerotic plaque. To investigate the effect of live CP and chlamydial lipopolysaccharide [LPS] on the production of TNF-alpha and IL-8, and to study the levels of anti-CP IgG antibodies in the first acute ischemic stroke patients. Venous blood samples were collected in EDTA tubes from patients who had first time acute ischemic stroke [n=14] and from healthy subjects [controls] [n=14]. Leukocytes were isolated and cultured either non-stimulated or stimulated with chlamydial LPS and live CP. Intracellular cytokine production was detected by immunocytochemistry. Anti-CP IgG and IgA antibodies were detected by enzyme immunoassay [EIA]. The data showed significant increase of chlamydial stimulated and non-stimulated TNF-alpha and IL-8 production in patients compared to control [P<0.03]. There were a significant increase in anti-CP IgG antibodies in stroke patients compared to controls [P<0.0001]. The study concluded that pathological changes in acute brain stroke might be a consequence of CP infections that mediated induction of potential proinflammatory cytokines