Immunohistochemical analysis of TNF-α and HSP-60 in women with tubal factor infertility associated withChlamydia trachomatis

Abstract

To explore the roles of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and heat shock protein 60 (HSP-60) in women with tubal factor infertility (TFI) associated withChlamydia trachomatis, and to determine the mechanisms of fallopian adhesions inChlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections, the expressions of TNF-α and HSP-60 were quantitatively determined in 60 cases of TFI and 30 controls by immunohistochemical technique. The patients with TFI were further divided into group A and group B according to the CT-DNA of cervical specimens of PCR. The quantitative analysis was conducted by employing computerized image analysis system. It is found that the expressions of TNF-α and HSP-60 were much higher in TFI patients than those of controls. Among CT-HSP responders, a stronger expression was correlated with more severe salpingeal pathology. It is concluded that TNF-α and HSP-60 play very important roles in fallopian tube adhesion and occlusion in TFI due to CT infection.

Keywords

TFI / HSP-60 / TNF-α / Chlamydia trachomatis / immunohistochemistry / image analysis

References

[1] PozniakA. Sexually transmitted disease and urinary tract infections. Curr Opin Infect Dis, 1999, 12(1): 33-33

[2] Karlsson-ParraA, FermM, SoderstromK, et al. . Presence of human 65 kD heat shock protein in inflamed joints and subcutaneous nodules of RA patients. Scand J Immunol, 1990, 31(2): 283-283

[3] PeelingR W, PattonD L, CosgroveS Y T, et al. . Antibody response to the chlamydial heat-shock protein 60 in an experimental model of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease in monkeys. J Infect Dis, 1999, 180(3): 774-774

[4] MegeeZ A, ClemensC M, JensenR L, et al. . Local induction of tumor necrosis factor as a molecular mechanism of mucosal damage by gonococci. Microb Pathog, 1992, 12: 333-333

[5] TothM, TereniasJ, LedgerW J, et al. . In vivo tumor necrosis factor production in women with salpingitis. Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1992, 174(5): 39-39

[6] JinB Q. Cellular and Molecular Immunology, 1998, Xi’an, World Book Publishers Ltd: 129-135