Evidence of Antibodies against the Chlamydial HeatSchock Protein (cHSP60) in Women from „in Vitro“Fertilization Program

Overview

Objective:
A contribution to the role of chlamydial heat shock protein in women from the IVFprogram.Design: A serological study proving the antibodies against the chlamydial heat shock protein.Setting: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Department of Clinical Microbiology, and Centrumof Reproductive Medicine, Faculty Hospital Brno.Methods: The IgG antibodies against the chlamydial heat shock protein (cHSP60) and the IgA andIgG antibodies against species specifi c chlamydial major outer membrane protein (cMOMP) ofChlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) and Chlamydophila pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) in theblood serum of 70 females being in the fertilization program due to fertility disorders (Group 1)have been estimated and the results compared with those obtained in 50 females suffering frompelvic infl ammation disease (PID) (Group 2) and in 51 female blood donors (Group 3) respectively.Results: The anti-cHSP60 antibodies have been ascertained as follows: in 26 women from the fi rstgroup (37.1%), in 16 of the second group (32.0%) and in 12 (23.5%) of female blood donors. The anticHSP60 – antibody – occurrence and mean index of positivity as well, found in the groups examined,was statistically insignifi cant. Similarly no difference has been found in the occurrence of the speciesspecifi c anti-cMOMP antibodies C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae in the groups examined. The anti--cMOMP antibodies against C. trachomatis and simultaneously against C. pneumoniae have been detectedin 21 from 171 women of all groups (12.3%), only against C. trachomatis in 9 (5.3%) and against C.pneumoniae in 73 of them (42.7%). There was considerably higher occurrence of the specifi c antibodiesagainst C. trachomatis in women with a positive fi nding of antibodies against the cHSP60, especiallyin women suffering from gynecological disorders, than in women without such antibodies.Conclusion: C. trachomatis has a signifi cant impact on the production of antibodies against the cHSP60.This fact can be documented by considerably higher occurrence of the specifi c antibodies against C.trachomatis in women with a positive fi nding of antibodies against the cHSP60, than in women withoutsuch antibodies. Preceding infection C. trachomatis and following sensitization with chlamydialheat shock protein indicate an unfavourable prognosis of the reproductive outcome and impairs theperspective of a successful in vitro fertilization. The proof of antibodies against the chlamydial HSP60can be recommended as a further auxiliary criterion in women suffering from fertility disorders.

Key words:
HSP60, C. trachomatis, C. pneumoniae, antibodies, fertility disorders, blood donors