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. 1998 Mar;9(2):99-108.
doi: 10.1155/1998/395297.

T lymphocyte immunity in host defence against Chlamydia trachomatis and its implication for vaccine development

X Yang  1 , R Brunham
Affiliations

T lymphocyte immunity in host defence against Chlamydia trachomatis and its implication for vaccine development

X Yang et al. Can J Infect Dis. 1998 Mar.

Abstract
in English, French

Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen that causes several significant human infectious diseases, including trachoma, urethritis, cervicitis and salpingitis, and is an important cofactor for transmission of human immunodeficiency virus. Until very recently, over three decades of research effort aimed at developing a C trachomatis vaccine had failed, due mainly to the lack of a precise understanding of the mechanisms for protective immunity. Although most studies concerning protective immunity to C trachomatis have focused on humoral immune responses, recent studies have clearly shown that T helper-1 (Th1)-like CD4 T cell-mediated immune responses play the dominant role in protective immunity. These studies suggest a paradigm for chlamydial immunity and pathology based on the concept of heterogeneity (Th1/Th2) in CD4 T cell immune responses. This concept for chlamydial immunity offers a rational template on which to base renewed efforts for development of a chlamydial vaccine that targets the induction of cell-mediated Th1 immune responses.

Chlamydia trachomatis est un organisme pathogène bactérien intracellulaire obligé qui provoque plusieurs infections importantes chez l’être humain, y compris le trachome, l’urétrite, la cervicite et la salpingite et il est un important cofacteur de transmission du virus de l’immunodéficience humaine. Jusqu’à très récemment, trois décennies de recherches visant la mise au point d’un vaccin contre C. trachomatis avaient échoué, principalement à cause d’une mauvaise compréhension des mécanismes de l’immunité. La plupart des études ayant porté sur l’immunité contre C. trachomatis se sont attardées sur les réponses de l’immunité humorale, or, de récentes études ont clairement démontré que la réponse immunitaire à médiation cellulaire par les CD4 T de type Th1 jouent un rôle prédominant dans l’immunité. Ces études suggèrent un paradigme de l’immunité et de la pathologie liée au Chlamydia sur la base du concept d’hétérogénéité (Th1/Th2) dans les réponses immunitaires des cellules CD4 T. Ce concept d’immunité chlamydiale offre un modèle rationnel sur lequel fonder de nouveaux efforts pour la mise au point d’un vaccin anti-chlamydia qui ciblerait l’induction des réponses immunitaires à médiation cellulaire Th1.

Keywords: Cell-mediated immunity; Chlamydia trachomatis; Cytokine; Th1/Th2; Vaccine.

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