Reduced levels of gamma-interferon secretion in response to chlamydial 60 kDa heat shock protein amongst women with pelvic inflammatory disease and a history of repeated Chlamydia trachomatis infections

Peripheral lymphocytes in uninfected fertile controls, women with various histories of Chlamydia trachomatis infection, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility not due to C trachomatis infection (endometriosis) were cultured overnight with PHA mitogen and the 60 kDa chlamydial heat shock protein. Plasma samples were then assayed for levels of gamma-interforon and IL-10 using a commercial ELISA system, Women with PID and those with a history of multiple C trachomatis infections showed reduced, gamma-interferon production in response to cHSP60, not seen in women infected only once and those with infertility due to other causes (endometriosis). Secretion of IL-10 in response to cHSP60 did not vary significantly across the various patient groups, though all patients showed elevated levels of total IL-10 compared with uninfected controls. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.