Chlamydia trachomatis infection and development of epithelial mesenchymal transition in conjunctiva: possible epigenetic mechanisms unveiled

Abstract

Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide initiated by repeated infections of the conjunctiva with Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct). Consequent chronic inflammation results in formation of fibrotic tissue which can eventually lead to damage of the corneal surface. Lately, emerging evidence suggests involvement of epithelial to mesenchymaltransition (EMT) in development of every fibrotic process. Process of EMT represents reversible transition of epithelial into mesenchymalcells that can be traced through numerous markers such as E-cadherin, highly expressed in epithelial cells, α-SMA, a frequently used mesenchymalEMT marker and fibronectin, a glycoprotein whose expression increases during the EMT process. Recent findings have suggested that epigenetic events are master regulators of expression of many EMT related genes.