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Infection and Immunity, March 2008, p. 942-951, Vol. 76, No. 3
0019-9567/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.01313-07
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Intracellular Interleukin-1 Mediates Interleukin-8 Production Induced by Chlamydia trachomatis Infection via a Mechanism Independent of Type I Interleukin-1 Receptor

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78229,² Departments of Immunology,¹ Parasitology, The Central South University, Xiangya Medical School, 168 Tongzipo Rd., Changsha, Hunan 410013, The People's Republic of China³

Received 27 September 2007/ Returned for modification 8 November 2007/ Accepted 3 December 2007

Chlamydia trachomatis infection induces a wide array of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which may contribute to chlamydia-induced pathologies. However, the precise mechanisms by which Chlamydia induces cytokines remain unclear. Here we demonstrate that the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) plays an essential role in chlamydial induction of the chemokine IL-8. Cells deficient in IL-1 expression or IL-1-competent cells treated with IL-1-specific small interfering RNA failed to produce IL-8 in response to chlamydial infection. However, neutralization of extracellular IL-1 or blockade of or deficiency in type I IL-1 receptor (IL-1RI) signaling did not affect chlamydial induction of IL-8 in cells capable of producing IL-1. These results suggest that IL-1 can mediate the chlamydial induction of IL-8 via an intracellular mechanism independent of IL-1RI, especially during the early stage of the infection cycle. This conclusion is further supported by the observations that expression of a transgene-encoded full-length IL-1 fusion protein in the nuclei enhanced IL-8 production and that nuclear localization of chlamydia-induced precursor IL-1 correlated with chlamydial induction of IL-8. Thus, we have identified a novel mechanism for chlamydial induction of the chemokine IL-8.

Published ahead of print on 17 December 2007.

Editor: J. B. Bliska

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