The modulation of chlamydial replication by HLA-B27 depends on the cytoplasmic domain of HLA-B27.

OBJECTIVE The intracellular persistence of viable Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) within the joint is thought to initiate and maintain the inflammatory process in CT-induced arthritis. CT-induced arthritis is associated with HLA-B27. Recently it was shown that HLA-B27, besides being a T-cell restriction element, can directly influence the invasion and/or replication of enterobacteriae and alters salmonella-induced signal transduction. It was the aim of this study to analyze the effect of HLA-B27 on CT-invasion and replication in human host cells. METHODS Human Hela cells and Hela cells transfected with either HLA-B27 cDNA or controls (HLA-A1 cDNA; HLA-B27 mutant = HLA-B27 without cytoplasmic tail; B27Q10 = HLA-B27 Exon 1-4 linked to Exon 5 of murine Q10) were infected with CT. By direct immunofluorescence chlamydial invasion was determined 4 hours post infection (p.i.), chlamydial replication 2 days and 4 days p.i. The number of infective CT in the different cell lines was determined by titration of the cell lysates on Hep-2 cells with subsequent immunoperoxidase staining. RESULTS Invasion was not affected by HLA-B27. However, formation of chlamydial inclusion bodies and replication was suppressed by HLA-B27. Genetically engineered mutants of HLA-B27 (HLA-B27 mutant, B27Q10) lacking the cytoplasmic tail of HLA-B27 did not affect replication. CONCLUSION The reduction of chlamydial replication by HLA-B27 depends on the cytoplasmic domain of HLA-B27, thus providing a new hypothesis for chlamydial persistence in HLA-B27 positive reactive arthritis.