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Cytokine profile in serum and synovial fluid of arthritis patients with Chlamydia trachomatis infection

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Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct)-induced arthritis (CtIA) is characterized by persistent Ct infection, which stimulates secretion of cytokines in vitro. We therefore investigated whether CtIA patients have a unique cytokine profile in synovial fluid or serum in vivo. Because underlying Ct infection is overlooked in a high percentage of patients with initially diagnosed undifferentiated oligoarthritis (UOA), we examined whether determination of cytokines might also be of diagnostic relevance for this arthritis form. Matched serum and synovial fluid specimens from 26 patients with CtIA were analyzed and compared to those from 34 patients with UOA in whom Ct infection was excluded and those of nine patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In 15 CtIA patients, Ct DNA from synovial fluid could be amplified by polymerase chain reaction. The following cytokine or cytokine antagonists were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-6, IL-1 receptor antagonist, and soluble TNF receptor p75. No statistically significant differences in cytokine levels between patients with CtIA or the other arthritis forms were detected. Also, comparison between CtIA patients with (n=17) and without Chlamydia DNA (n=9) in synovial fluid revealed no significant differences for these cytokines. Cytokine levels in serum and synovial fluid were not different between CtIA, UOA without Ct infection, and RA patients. The intracellular presence of Ct was not associated with a specific profile of these cytokines in vivo.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Margaret Schmidt for the excellent technical assistance in determining cytokine levels. This work was supported by BMBF VM 9305-05, BMBF GI 9950, Biomed BMH4-CT-98-3605, QLRI-CT-2002-02276, and DFG Ku1182/1 and 1–3, Gesellschaft der Freunde der Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover and Hannover Medical School (HiLF program).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology , Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

    Sebastian Schnarr, Lars Köhler, Henning Zeidler & Jens G. Kuipers

  2. Department of Epidemiology, Social Medicine and Health System Research, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

    Elke Raum

  3. Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

    Michael Martin

  4. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Innere Medizin I, Universitätskliniken des Saarlandes, 66421, Homburg/Saar, Germany

    Michael C. Jendro

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  1. Michael C. Jendro
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  2. Elke Raum
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  3. Sebastian Schnarr
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  4. Lars Köhler
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  5. Henning Zeidler
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  6. Jens G. Kuipers
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  7. Michael Martin
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Correspondence to Michael C. Jendro.

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Jendro, M.C., Raum, E., Schnarr, S. et al. Cytokine profile in serum and synovial fluid of arthritis patients with Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Rheumatol Int 25, 37–41 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-003-0393-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-003-0393-1

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