Effect of Chlamydia trachomatis infection on atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

We have previously demonstrated that Chlamydia pneumoniae accelerates plaqu e formation in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE(-/-)) mice following intran asal inoculations. In this study, we evaluated the effect of respiratory tr act infection with Chlamydia trachomatis on the progression of atherosclero sis in ApoE(-/-) mice. The study showed that in contrast to infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae, infection of the lung and aorta with C. trachomatis w as mild and transient and did not significantly accelerate plaque developme nt.