STAT3-mediated TLR2/4 pathway upregulation in an IFN-gamma-induced Chlamydia trachomatis persistent infection model.

Inflammatory pathological injury caused by Chlamydia trachomatis persistent infection could lead to a variety of urogenital tract diseases. By comparing the cytokine production and PRR (pattern recognition receptor) expression between cell models with acute or persistent C. trachomatis infection, our data supported that persistent infection of C. trachomatis led to abnormal activation of toll-like receptor (TLR)2/4 signaling pathway and elevated IL-1α and IL-6 production, which was mediated by signal transducer and activator of transcription3 (STAT3). Studying the effects of abnormal activation of TLR signaling pathway in the cells with C. trachomatis persistent infection could provide new hints for chronic infection treatment and an important experimental basis for understanding the pathogenesis of C. trachomatis persistent infection.