Role of cell-mediated immunity in chlamydial infection: implications for ocular immunity. 1985

D M Williams, and J Schachter

Cellular immunity to Chlamydia trachomatis is not well understood. Studies with the mouse pneumonitis agent in a mouse pneumonia model suggest a strong thymic component to immunity and a role for the macrophage as an effector cell in cell-mediated immunity to C. trachomatis. Experiments with Chlamydia psittaci indicate that cellular cytotoxic mechanisms and biostatic or cytotoxic mechanisms involving cytokines may also play a role in host defense against chlamydiae. Interferon has been shown to inhibit intracellular growth of both C. trachomatis and C. psittaci in vitro. Further studies are needed on the role of T lymphocytes or lymphokines and macrophages in limiting the growth of C. trachomatis in conjunctival epithelial cells (the most appropriate target cells) and in exerting a toxic effect on these cells. The evidence suggests that macrophages are activated during C. trachomatis infection; this activation may lead to the release of monokines (such as interleukin 1) that may be important in the pathogenesis of scarring due to over-stimulation of cellular immunity during ocular infection. Cell-mediated immunity to ocular infection with C. trachomatis may thus be a double-edged sword.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006968 Hypersensitivity, Delayed An increased reactivity to specific antigens mediated not by antibodies but by sensitized T CELLS. Hypersensitivity, Tuberculin-Type,Hypersensitivity, Type IV,Tuberculin-Type Hypersensitivity,Type IV Hypersensitivity,Delayed Hypersensitivity,Delayed Hypersensitivities,Hypersensitivity, Tuberculin Type,Tuberculin Type Hypersensitivity,Tuberculin-Type Hypersensitivities,Type IV Hypersensitivities
D007111 Immunity, Cellular Manifestations of the immune response which are mediated by antigen-sensitized T-lymphocytes via lymphokines or direct cytotoxicity. This takes place in the absence of circulating antibody or where antibody plays a subordinate role. Cell-Mediated Immunity,Cellular Immune Response,Cell Mediated Immunity,Cell-Mediated Immunities,Cellular Immune Responses,Cellular Immunities,Cellular Immunity,Immune Response, Cellular,Immune Responses, Cellular,Immunities, Cell-Mediated,Immunities, Cellular,Immunity, Cell-Mediated,Response, Cellular Immune
D008214 Lymphocytes White blood cells formed in the body's lymphoid tissue. The nucleus is round or ovoid with coarse, irregularly clumped chromatin while the cytoplasm is typically pale blue with azurophilic (if any) granules. Most lymphocytes can be classified as either T or B (with subpopulations of each), or NATURAL KILLER CELLS. Lymphoid Cells,Cell, Lymphoid,Cells, Lymphoid,Lymphocyte,Lymphoid Cell
D008264 Macrophages The relatively long-lived phagocytic cell of mammalian tissues that are derived from blood MONOCYTES. Main types are PERITONEAL MACROPHAGES; ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGES; HISTIOCYTES; KUPFFER CELLS of the liver; and OSTEOCLASTS. They may further differentiate within chronic inflammatory lesions to EPITHELIOID CELLS or may fuse to form FOREIGN BODY GIANT CELLS or LANGHANS GIANT CELLS. (from The Dictionary of Cell Biology, Lackie and Dow, 3rd ed.) Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages,Monocyte-Derived Macrophages,Macrophage,Macrophages, Monocyte-Derived,Bone Marrow Derived Macrophages,Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophage,Macrophage, Bone Marrow-Derived,Macrophage, Monocyte-Derived,Macrophages, Bone Marrow-Derived,Macrophages, Monocyte Derived,Monocyte Derived Macrophages,Monocyte-Derived Macrophage
D011014 Pneumonia Infection of the lung often accompanied by inflammation. Experimental Lung Inflammation,Lobar Pneumonia,Lung Inflammation,Pneumonia, Lobar,Pneumonitis,Pulmonary Inflammation,Experimental Lung Inflammations,Inflammation, Experimental Lung,Inflammation, Lung,Inflammation, Pulmonary,Inflammations, Lung,Inflammations, Pulmonary,Lobar Pneumonias,Lung Inflammation, Experimental,Lung Inflammations,Lung Inflammations, Experimental,Pneumonias,Pneumonias, Lobar,Pneumonitides,Pulmonary Inflammations
D002690 Chlamydia Infections Infections with bacteria of the genus CHLAMYDIA. Infections, Chlamydia,Chlamydia Infection,Infection, Chlamydia
D002691 Chlamydophila psittaci A genus of CHLAMYDOPHILA infecting primarily birds. It contains eight known serovars, some of which infect more than one type of host, including humans. Chlamydia psittaci
D002692 Chlamydia trachomatis Type species of CHLAMYDIA causing a variety of ocular and urogenital diseases.
D003602 Cytotoxicity, Immunologic The phenomenon of target cell destruction by immunologically active effector cells. It may be brought about directly by sensitized T-lymphocytes or by lymphoid or myeloid "killer" cells, or it may be mediated by cytotoxic antibody, cytotoxic factor released by lymphoid cells, or complement. Tumoricidal Activity, Immunologic,Immunologic Cytotoxicity,Immunologic Tumoricidal Activities,Immunologic Tumoricidal Activity,Tumoricidal Activities, Immunologic
D005123 Eye The organ of sight constituting a pair of globular organs made up of a three-layered roughly spherical structure specialized for receiving and responding to light. Eyes

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