TLR2/CXCR4 coassociation facilitates<i>Chlamydia pneumoniae</i>infection-induced atherosclerosis
Guolin Miao, Xi Zhao, Beibei Wang, Lijun Zhang, Guangyan Wang, Ningbo Zheng, Jingya Liu, Zhelong Xu, Lijun Zhang
Abstract
Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) have both been shown to be involved in atherosclerosis. We demonstrate for the first time the presence of TLR2/CXCR4 coassociation during C. pneumoniae infection-induced atherosclerosis. Amazingly, blocking of both TLR2 and CXCR4 significantly retards and even almost reverses this infection-induced atherosclerosis. Our work reveals new mechanisms about C. pneumoniae infection-induced atherosclerosis and identifies potential new therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.
Topics & Concepts
TLR2CXCR4ChlamydiaChemokineChlamydophila pneumoniaeChemokine receptorReceptorStreptococcus pneumoniaeImmunologyToll-like receptorInflammationMicrobiologyBiologyMedicineChlamydiaceaeInternal medicineTLR4Innate immune systemAntibioticsImmune Response and InflammationBacterial Infections and VaccinesStreptococcal Infections and Treatments