Examination of possible role of the chlamydial stress proteins in pathogenesis of ectopic pregnancy

Abstract

Introduction. Chlamydia trachomatis infections are the most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infections recognized throughout the world. In the last few years, several studies have indicated that predisposition of C. trachomatis to persist within the host cell is recognized as a major factor in the pathogenesis of chlamydial infection. During persistent chlamydial infection, the stress protein hsp60 is synthesized continually as immunopathologic antigen. Antibodies to hsp60 are found in women with tubal occlusion, but these antibodies are not detected in women with the acute C. trachomatis infection, which indicates that hsp60 has an important role in pathogenesis of persistant chlamydial infection. Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the role of chlamydial stress proteins (heat shock proteins) in pathogenesis of ectopic pregnancy. Methods. The study included 40 women with ectopic pregnancy (experimental group) and 34 women with normal pregnancy (control group). C. trachomatis was detected in endocervical smears by direct immunofluorescence test, while specific antibodies against Chlamydia spp. and against hsp60 were detected by ELISA. Results. DIF method detected the presence of C. trachomatis in 12.5% of women with the ectopic pregnancy and 17.6% of women with normal pregnancy. IgG antibodies against Chlamydia spp. were found in 57.5% of women with the ectopic pregnancy and 26.5% of women with normal pregnancy. IgA antibodies were positive in 37.5% of women with the ectopic pregnancy and 2.9% of women with normal pregnancy. IgG antibodies against hsp60 were positive in 37.5% of women with the ectopic pregnancy and 14.7% of women with normal pregnancy. Conclusion. The results of this study have proven the correlation between the ectopic pregnancy and the presence of IgG antibodies to chlamydial hsp60.

Keywords

• Chlamydia
• ectopic pregnancy
• stress proteins