Ka. Ault et al., TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR-ALPHA RESPONSE TO INFECTION WITH CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS IN HUMAN FALLOPIAN-TUBE ORGAN-CULTURE, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 175(5), 1996, pp. 1242-1245
OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine whether tumor necrosis factor-
alpha is produced in response to infection with Chlamydia trachomatis
in the fallopian tube. STUDY DESIGN: Fallopian tubes were harvested at
the time of abdominal hysterectomy and processed by standard tissue c
ulture techniques. Tubal segments were inoculated with Chlamydia trach
omatis serotype E/UW-5/CX. At 48 hours of incubation supernatant fluid
was assayed for tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Tubal segments were stai
ned for chlamydial inclusions and tumor necrosis factor-alpha by use o
f immunohistochemical techniques. RESULTS: Mean tumor necrosis factor-
alpha levels for infected segments were 92.1 +/- 21.3 pg/ml (mean +/-
SEM) and for control segments were 61.9 +/- 13.9 pg/ml (p = 0.03 by pa
ired t test). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha was predominantly localized
in the tubal epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha is p
roduced in response to chlamydial infection by the human fallopian tub
e. It is an important proinflammatory cytokine and may promote the pro
duction of other cytokines and immune-mediated damage of the fallopian
tube.