Host immune response to Chlamydia pneumoniae heat shock protein 60 is associated with asthma

Chlamydia pneumoniae infection has been associated with asthma, It has also been suggested that heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) belonging to a class of highly conserved proteins may play a role in the pathogenesis of chlamydial infections. The purpose was to study whether the host immune response to C . pneumoniae Hsp60 is associated with asthma and decreased pulmonary functi on. An enzyme immunoassay was used to measure immunoglobulin-(Ig)A and Ige anti bodies against recombinant C. pneumoniae Hsp60 and human Hsp60 in a study g roup consisting of 24 cases of recently symptomatic asthma and 62 nonasthma tic controls, A strong (r = 0.50) and significant (p <0.001) correlation was observed bet ween C, pneumoniae and human Hsp60 IgA antibodies, but only C. pneumoniae H sp60 IgA antibodies were significantly associated with asthma (p = 0.02), P ulmonary function, as measured by forced expiratory volume in one second, a lso inversely correlated (r = -0.23, p = 0.04) with the quantity of C. pneu moniae Hsp60 IgA antibodies, suggesting an association with the severity of pulmonary obstruction. By showing an association of Chlamydia pneumoniae heat shock protein 60 imm unoglobulin A antibodies with asthma, the results support the hypothesis of an association between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and asthma and suppo rt the need for further investigations on the role of heat shock protein 60 in the pathogenesis of asthma.