The inflammatory aspects of Chlamydia pneumoniae-induced brain infection

Abstract

The importance of inflammation in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, is increasingly being recognized. Although amyloid-beta is considered to be one of the main initiators of these inflammatory processes, some reports suggest that brain infections may also contribute or even initiate the neuroinflammation. One of the best studied pathogens that might be involved in this phenomenon is the herpes simplex virus, but more recently the obligate intracellular respiratory Gram-negative bacterium, Chlamydia pneumoniae, has also been associated with Alzheimer's disease. The present article discusses recent data on the role of C. pneumoniae infection in neuroinflammation and its potential contribution to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.