BIOLOGY
Organoids reveal inflammatory processes in chlamydia infections

Published
9 months agoon

For a long time, researchers were only able to examine human cells infected with bacteria by using cancer cell lines. However, these transformed cells often give a false impression of the infection process. Fallopian tube organoids from normal human fallopian tube cells, on the other hand, reflect the natural structure of the tissue. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin have now investigated fallopian tube cells chronically infected with Chlamydia for many months. The results show that the cells react to the bacterial infection with increased production of LIF—an inflammatory messenger associated with ectopic pregnancies. In addition, the bacteria cause persistent epigenetic changes to the DNA.
Epithelia form a barrier between the outside world and internal organs and are therefore the first line of defence against pathogens. Today, scientists can use stem cells to cultivate epithelial cell organoids, i.e. cell clusters that replicate natural tissues. This enables them to investigate what happens in healthy human cells during infections without having to employ cancer cells. “Although the development of organoids is time-consuming and costly, their use has led to a quantum leap in our understanding of Chlamydia infections,” says Thomas Meyer, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology.
Meyer’s research group has selected the widespread pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis for their study, which often does not cause any symptoms when sexually transmitted and therefore goes unnoticed. This favours the development of chronic infections, which in women sometimes ascend into the fallopian tubes and are associated with infertility, ectopic pregnancy and ovarian cancer. Because Chlamydia infections are extremely common—more than 100 million new infections per year are estimated worldwide—such serious consequences are a cause for concern.
Alternative to HeLa-cells
Up to now, scientists have barely been able to investigate the consequences of an infection because fallopian tubes are very difficult to access for clinical investigations. In addition, for a long time there was no model system in which they could analyse the natural course of an infection. “In the past, we were dependent on HeLa cells—a human cell line cultivated from cervical cancer—for infection experiments with Chlamydia. However, these experiments lasted a maximum of 72 hours, after which all cells died,” explains Mirjana Kessler, head of the study. “However, when we first looked at time-lapse images of infected fallopian organoids, the difference was astonishing.” The organoids stay alive for weeks and months, while the bacteria infect cells and create new offspring, which in turn infect new cells.
The team suspects that the difference is mainly due to the fact that organoids resemble the natural structure of the epithelium: Their cells are not flat like cancer cells, but tightly packed together and three-dimensional, with a distinct inner and outer surface. This enables them to fend off infections more effectively. Only a subset of cells is infected and subsequently pushed out of the epithelium by the surrounding cells, thus preventing tissue damage. “The cells and bacteria achieve a kind of equilibrium that is very similar to a real human infection. This allows infected organoids to survive for months,” adds Thomas Meyer. “This is the first time we have succeeded in reproducing the course of a chronic bacterial infection in mucosal cells.”
Epigenetic changes
The organoids react to Chlamydia with increased production of LIF, an inflammatory messenger associated with ectopic pregnancies. This is the first concrete indication of a possible mechanism underlying this complication. In addition, the team has observed changes in DNA that occur as cells age. These changes are permanent and persist even after the bacteria have been successfully eradicated. Such epigenetic long-term changes could explain how Chlamydia infections might promote the development of cancer many years later.
Explore further:
New culture model makes fallopian tube accessible
More information:
Chronic Chlamydia infection in human organoids increases stemness and promotes age-dependent CpG methylation. Nature Communications; 18 March, 2019. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09144-7
Co-host on the H.P.S.N. talk show and co-founder of the Human Parasites Support Network. Content contributor, survivor and victim of a parasitic infection. #Computer guy. #WebDeveloper #Marketer #Entrepreneur #BusinessOwner #UniversityofOklahoma

You may like
Medical News


Quick Take: Antibiotic management of urinary tract infection in elderly patients in primary care and its association with bloodstream infections and all-cause mortality
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common bacterial infection in elderly patients, and the spectrum of illness ranges from...


Quick Take: Duration of antibiotic treatment for common infections in English primary care: cross sectional analysis and comparison with guidelines
Antibiotic resistance is a growing challenge across the globe. As such, there have been increasing efforts towards reducing unnecessary or...


Quick Take: Association of Systemic Antibiotic Treatment of Acne With Skin Microbiota Characteristics
Systemic antibiotics are commonly used in the treatment of acne. However, the impact of their use on the complete bacterial...


New herpes zoster vaccine predicted to be more cost effective than predecessor
1. In a computational model, the new “recombinant zoster vaccine” (RZV) was predicted to be most cost-effective than the previous...
#CDC
@RS1Photo Retailers have been advised not to sell romaine grown in Salinas. Many romaine companies have offices in Salinas. Harvest region labels are different than the information showing company name and address. Read more on how to identify affected lettuce: go.usa.gov/xpngY
@WickedHotNails @CDCemergency Retailers have been advised not to sell romaine grown in Salinas. Many romaine companies have offices in Salinas. Harvest region labels are different than the information showing company name and address. Read more on how to identify affected lettuce: go.usa.gov/xpngY
@CDCMMWR #Clinicians: New @CDCMMWR shows e-cigarette, or vaping, product use–associated lung injury (EVALI) patients continue to be mostly young adults, white men, & that 80% report use of THC-containing product brands. bit.ly/MMWREVALI
@babygirllucy6 @harvest_joy Iceberg grown in Salinas is not included in CDC’s warning about the current outbreak. The CDC warning applies only to romaine lettuce grown in the Salinas region. Outbreak updates will be posted here: go.usa.gov/xpXg8.
#LymeDisease
NY lab found that 32% of ticks carry diseases. Lyme was found in 26%. “We didn’t expect in the fall for the numbers to be that high,” Thangamani said. #LymeDisease syracuse.com/news/2019/12/a…
"There are no words to explain how I feel about the five years that have slipped away from me." #LymeDisease yahoo.com/lifestyle/refl…
Thank you @bldwn_co & Dori! If you’re in LA tomorrow, shop & join our fight against #LymeDisease #GivingTuesday twitter.com/avrilfoundatio…
Pls join us tmrw #GivingTuesday @bldwn_co 6-9pm in LA to shop for a great cause: OURS! Thx to Dori Howell x BLDWN, you'll receive 15% off during this private sale & a portion of proceeds will help @AvrilFoundation continue to #FightLyme. Rsvp: katrina@bldwn.co #DoGoodGiveBack pic.twitter.com/CAvsKAGzqt
— The Avril Foundation (@AvrilFoundation) December 2, 2019