TY - JOUR
T1 - Detection of Chlamydiae pneumoniae but not Helicobacter pylori DNA in atherosclerosis plaques
AU - Dore, Maria Pina
AU - Sepulveda, Antonia R.
AU - Bacciu, Piero P.
AU - Blasi, Francesco
AU - Simula, Luigi
AU - Marras, Lea
AU - Piccolo, Davide
AU - Cherchi, Giovanni B.
AU - Graham, David Y.
AU - Realdi, Giuseppe
PY - 2003/5/1
Y1 - 2003/5/1
N2 - Chronic infections have been associated with cardiovascular disease. We used bacterial culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and immunohistochemical staining with anti-vacA and anticagA antibodies to search for Helicobacter pylori and Chlamydiae pneumoniae in atherosclerotic plaques obtained at endarterectomy. Serum IgG antibodies to H. pylori and C. pneumoniae were also determined. Thirty-two patients were enrolled. Anti-H. pylori and anti-C. pneumoniae IgG were present in 72% and 81%, respectively. Culture and PCR for H. pylori of vessel walls and plaques were negative. Atherosclerotic plaque and normal vessel sections from H. pylori-negative and- positive patients showed reactivity with anti-vacA and anti-cagA antibodies. C. pneumoniae DNA was amplified in three atherosclerotic lesions. These findings suggest that the association between H. pylori infection and atherosclerosis does not result from continuing direct effects of H. pylori antigens in the vessel walls. Antigens within vessel atherosclerotic plaques cross-react with H. pylori virulence factors and could act as cofactors in determining instability for the atherosclerotic plaques.
AB - Chronic infections have been associated with cardiovascular disease. We used bacterial culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and immunohistochemical staining with anti-vacA and anticagA antibodies to search for Helicobacter pylori and Chlamydiae pneumoniae in atherosclerotic plaques obtained at endarterectomy. Serum IgG antibodies to H. pylori and C. pneumoniae were also determined. Thirty-two patients were enrolled. Anti-H. pylori and anti-C. pneumoniae IgG were present in 72% and 81%, respectively. Culture and PCR for H. pylori of vessel walls and plaques were negative. Atherosclerotic plaque and normal vessel sections from H. pylori-negative and- positive patients showed reactivity with anti-vacA and anti-cagA antibodies. C. pneumoniae DNA was amplified in three atherosclerotic lesions. These findings suggest that the association between H. pylori infection and atherosclerosis does not result from continuing direct effects of H. pylori antigens in the vessel walls. Antigens within vessel atherosclerotic plaques cross-react with H. pylori virulence factors and could act as cofactors in determining instability for the atherosclerotic plaques.
KW - Atherosclerosis
KW - Chlamydiae pneumoniae
KW - Dyspepsia
KW - Helicobacter pylori infection
KW - Mimicry
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U2 - 10.1023/A:1023059815117
DO - 10.1023/A:1023059815117
M3 - Article
C2 - 12772795
AN - SCOPUS:0242432600
VL - 48
SP - 945
EP - 951
JO - Digestive Diseases and Sciences
JF - Digestive Diseases and Sciences
SN - 0163-2116
IS - 5
ER -