Characterization of beta2-adrenergic receptor knockout mouse model during Chlamydia muridarum genital infection

Abstract Chlamydia genital infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease worldwide. A mouse model has been developed in our laboratory to better understand the effect of cold-induced stress on chlamydia genital infection and immune response. However, the stress mechanism affecting the host response to Chlamydia muridarum genital infection remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate a role for the beta2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR), which binds noradrenaline and modulates the immune response against chlamydia genital infection in a mouse model. A successful β2-AR homozygous knockout (KO) mouse model was used to study the infection and analyze the immune response. Our data show that stressed mice lacking the β2-AR are less susceptible to C. muridarum genital infection than controls. A correlation was obtained between lower organ load and higher interferon-gamma production by CD4+ and CD8+ cells of the KO mice. Furthermore, exposure of CD4+ T cells to noradrenaline alters the production of cytokines in mice during C. muridarum genital infection. This study suggests that the blockade of β2-AR signaling could be used to increase resistance to chlamydia genital infection. We value the β2-AR KO as a viable model that can provide reproducible results in investigating medical research, including chlamydia genital infection.