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Document Details : Title: Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and hyperlipidaemia-induced expression of P50 and c-Fos in the heart of C57BL6J mice Author(s): B. Huang , Y. Dong , Y. Cheng , Q. Xie , G. Lin , Y. Wu , Y. Feng , J. Li , W. Mai Journal: Acta Cardiologica Volume: 63 Issue: 2 Date: 2008 Pages: 175-179 DOI: 10.2143/AC.63.2.2029525 Abstract : Objective — The objective of this study was to investigate infection by Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) and the combined effects of an atherogenic diet on the expression of AP-1 or the subunit of AP-1 (c-Fos) and NF-kB or the subunit of NF-kB (P50) in myocardial cells of C57BL/6J mice. Methods and results — Thirty-six 8-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups: A, B and C (twelve mice in each group). Mice in group A were fed an atherogenic diet (consisting of 15% fat and 2.5% cholesterol). Those in group B and C (as blank control) were fed a regular diet. The mice in group B were infected with C. pneumoniae. Fourteen weeks later, the expression of P50 (subunit of NF-kB) and c-Fos (subunit of AP-1) in the heart was determined by indirect immunofluorescence in the myocardial cells. Binding activity of NF-kB and AP-1 in the heart was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The expression of NF-kB and AP-1 in the myocardial cells was upregulated in group A and B, compared with group C (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between group A and B. Conclusion — The inflammatory process was already initiated in the myocardial cells in C57BL/6J mice at the early stage of C. pneumoniae infection and hyperlipidaemia. The expression of NF-kB and AP-1 was upregulated in mice infected by C. pneumoniae or fed an atherogenic diet. C. pneumoniae or hyperlipidaemia may involve the pathogenesis and progression of ischaemic cardiomyopathy. |