TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR-ALPHA ACTIVITY IN GENITAL-TRACT SECRETIONS OF GUINEA-PIGS INFECTED WITH CHLAMYDIAE

Previous studies using the guinea pig model of chlamydial genital infe ction demonstrated that primary infection is associated with a marked acute inflammatory response early on, while chronic inflammation appea rs later, at a time when the level of infection is reduced, Challenge infections result primarily in a chronic inflammatory response. The st imuli that initiate inflammation and lead to tissue damage have not be en defined, We investigated the possibility that tumor necrosis factor s (TNFs) play a role in the inflammatory response to chlamydial genita l tract infection, Cytotoxicity assays for TNF were performed on genit al tract secretions collected from female guinea pigs during infection with the Chlamydia psittaci agent of guinea pig inclusion conjunctivi tis. During the early days of primary infection, high levels of TNF-al pha were detected in genital tract secretions from inbred S2 strain an d outbred Hartley strain guinea pigs, Significantly lower levels of TN F-alpha were detected in secretions from both strains during challenge infection. In general, the intensity of the TNF-alpha response was pr oportional to the intensity of infection. High TNF-alpha levels were p resent during primary infection at a time of marked neutrophil influx, Thus, TNF-alpha may play an important role in the response to primary chlamydial genital tract infection.