Trophoblast infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae and adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with placental dysfunction

• Published in: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology Vol. 200; no. 5; pp. 526.e1 - 526.e7
• Main Authors: Gomez, Luis M., Parry, Samuel
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.05.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; adverse pregnancy outcome; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Cell Survival - physiology; Cells, Cultured; Chlamydia pneumoniae; Chlamydophila Infections - pathology; Chlamydophila Infections - physiopathology; Chlamydophila pneumoniae; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Medical sciences; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Placenta Diseases - microbiology; Placenta Diseases - pathology; Placenta Diseases - physiopathology; placental dysfunction; Pre-Eclampsia - microbiology; Pre-Eclampsia - pathology; Pre-Eclampsia - physiopathology; preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - microbiology; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - pathology; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - physiopathology; trophoblast; Trophoblasts - microbiology; Trophoblasts - pathology; Trophoblasts - physiology; Young Adult; placental dysfunction; Chlamydia pneumoniae; adverse pregnancy outcome; preeclampsia; trophoblast; Pregnancy; Infection; Placenta; Prognosis; Chlamydiaceae; Dysfunction; Gynecology; Chlamydiales; Bacteria; Obstetrics
• ISSN: 0002-9378; 1097-6868; 1097-6868
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2009.03.001

We sought to determine whether Chlamydia pneumoniae impairs invasive trophoblast function and is associated with preeclampsia. We conducted cell viability and invasion assays using primary extravillous trophoblast cells isolated from first-trimester placentas. We performed a case-control study to identify C pneumoniae in trophoblast cells dissected by laser capture microscopy from placentas in women with severe preeclampsia and control subjects who delivered at term. Trophoblast cell viability and invasion through extracellular matrices were decreased after infection with C pneumoniae (both P < .05). C pneumoniae DNA was detected in trophoblast cells in 15/48 cases but only 3/30 controls (odds ratio, 4.1; P = .02). Positive and negative controls yielded expected results. C pneumoniae infection can reduce trophoblast invasion into the uterine wall and is associated with preeclampsia. Further investigation of the mechanisms by which C pneumoniae induces trophoblast dysfunction, and the identification of therapies to prevent adverse outcomes attributed to trophoblast dysfunction, are warranted.