Chlamydia trachomatis Infection Is Associated with E-Cadherin Promoter Methylation, Downregulation of E-Cadherin Expression, and Increased Expression of Fibronectin and α-SMA—Implications for Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
2017
Authors:
Rajić, JovanaInic-Kanada, Aleksandra
Stein, Elisabeth
Dinić, Svetlana
Schuerer, Nadine
Uskoković, Aleksandra
Ghasemian, Ehsan
Mihailović, Mirjana
Vidaković, Melita
Grdović, Nevena
Barisani-Asenbauer, Talin
Document Type:
Article (Published version)
,
© 2017 Rajić, Inic-Kanada, Stein, Dinić, Schuerer, Uskoković, Ghasemian, Mihailović, Vidaković, Grdović and Barisani-Asenbauer.
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract:
Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) can induce scarring disease of the ocular mucosa, known as trachoma, the most common infectious cause of blindness worldwide. We hypothesized that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) contributes to the fibrotic process in trachomatous scarring. Infection of human conjunctival epithelial cells (HCjE) with Ct activated signaling pathways involved in EMT induction, which was correlated with decreased expression of E-cadherin, guardian of the epithelial phenotype. In addition, Ct infection was associated with increased expression of two mesenchymal cell markers: fibronectin and α-SMA. The DNA methylation statuses of selected regions of E-cadherin, fibronectin, and α-SMA genes revealed that Ct infection was accompanied with changes in DNA methylation of the E-cadherin promoter, while the expression of the two mesenchymal markers was not related with this epigenetic event. Our data suggest that Ct infection of conjunctival epithelial cells induces EMT-like changes that go along with modification of the methylation profile of the E-cadherin promoter and could, as one of the earliest events, contribute to processes triggering conjunctival scarring.
Keywords:
Chlamydia trachomatis; Human conjunctival epithelial cells; HCjE; Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT); DNA methylation; E-cadherinFunding / projects:
- Signaling molecules in diabetes: search for potential targets in intrinsic pathways for prediction and intervention in diabetes (RS-MESTD-Basic Research (BR or ON)-173020)
- "Laura Bassi Centers of Expertise" program of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Economy through the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (822768)
In:
- Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (2017), 7(JUN): 253
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00253
ISSN: 2235-2988
PubMed: 28660176
WoS: 000403182500001
Scopus: 2-s2.0-85027584110
URI
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fcimb.2017.00253/fullhttps://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2836