Mycoplasmal infections alter gene expression in cultured human prostatic and cervical epithelial cells

To better understand how infections by mycoplasmas affect gene expression i n human cells, we quantitatively measured the transcripts of 38 cytokine ge nes in HPV E6- and E7-immortalized cervical and prostatic epithelial cells before and after infection by four human urogenital mycoplasmas, M. ferment ans, M. genitalium, M. hominis and M. penetrans. Using the multi-probe RNas e protection assay (RPA), 22 and 23 cytokine gene transcripts were detected in the non-infected control prostatic and cervical epithelial cells, respe ctively Although there were no discernible changes in cell morphology and g rowth kinetics following 72 h of mycoplasmal infection, 55-74% of the cytok ine genes expressed in the two human epithelial cell lines were altered. Mo st changes reflected an increased expression of these cytokine genes, while expression of some cytokine genes significantly decreased. The effects var ied with host cell type and species of infecting mycoplasmas. These alterat ions in gene expression were more profound in the cervical epithelial cells than in the prostatic cells. M. fermentans produced the most significant e ffects, followed by M. penetrans, M. genitalium and M. hominis. Some altera tions in the gene expression were transient, but most persisted over the co urse of chronic (9 months) mycoplasmal infection. Prolonged gene expression changes induced by chronic mycoplasmal infection may gradually alter impor tant biological properties in the infected mammalian cells and produce a un ique form of disease process. (C) 2000 Federation of European Microbiologic al Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.