In situ detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae, C. trachomatis, and cytokines among cardiovascular diseased patients from the Amazon region of Brazil

Figures & data

Table 1 Frequency distribution of histological sections by sex and age group, according to the surgical procedure

Variables		Revascularization, n (%)		Valve replacement, n (%)
		P, n=16	AO, n=32	AV, n=6	MV, n=15
Sex	Male	7 (43.7)	23 (71.9)	4 (66.7)	5 (33.3)
	Female	9 (56.2)	9 (28.1)	2 (33.3)	10 (66.7)
Age group (years)	≤49	1 (6.2)	8 (25.0)	4 (66.7)	8 (53.3)
	≥50	15 (93.7)	24 (75.0)	2 (33.3)	7 (46.7)

Abbreviations: P, atheromatous plaque; AO, aorta; AV, aortic valve; MV, mitral valve.

Figure 1 Photomicrographs of positive stainings of (A) Chlamydia pneumoniae in the mitral valve, (B) C. trachomatis in the mitral valve, (C) IL-6 in the aortic valve, (D) IL-8 in the mitral valve, (E) TNF-α in atheromatous plaque, (F) IFN-γ in the mitral valve, (G) TGF-β in atheromatous plaque, and (H) IL-10 in the mitral valve. The red arrows show the positive areas. Magnification 50×.

Abbreviations: IL, interleukin; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; TGF, transforming growth factor; IFN, interferon.

Figure 2 (A) Mean and standard deviation of the average percentage counts of the stained areas for C.p and C.t. Mann–Whitney. (B) Comparison of the mean values of the average percentage counts of the stained areas for C.p and C.t, according to the histological sections. Mann–Whitney.

Abbreviations: C.p, Chlamydia pneumoniae; C.t, Chlamydia trachomatis; +, positive; −, negative; V_C.p+, C. pneumoniae positives in valves; V_C.t+, C. trachomatis positives in valves; P_C.p+, C. pneumoniae positives in atheromatous plaques; AO_C.p+, C. pneumoniae positives in aorta fragments; AO_C.t+, C. trachomatis positives in aorta fragments.

Table 2 Average percentage of stained area for immunological markers in the presence or absence of infection by Chlamydia species

Markers	C.p+	C.p−	p*	C.t+	C.t−	p*	C.p+	C.t+	p*	C.p−	C.t−	p*
	Averages			Averages			Averages			Averages
TNF-α	6.9	4.3	0.121	6.7	3.9	0.216	6.9	6.7	0.791	4.3	3.9	0.771
IL-6	5.6	4.3	0.410	5.3	4.8	0.786	5.6	5.3	0.588	4.3	4.8	0.371
IL-10	1.5	0.5	0.210	1.4	1.5	0.732	1.5	1.4	0.950	0.5	1.5	0.395
IL-8	0.9	0.8	0.658	0.9	1.0	0.731	0.9	0.9	0.918	0.8	1.0	0.554
TGF-β	0.1	0.1	0.595	0.1	0.1	0.891	0.1	0.1	1.00	0.1	0.1	0.570
IFN-γ	0.4	—	—	0.9	0.1	0.364	0.4	0.9	0.450	—	0.1	—

Notes:

* Mann–Whitney. “—” Absence of staining.

Abbreviations: C.p, Chlamydia pneumoniae; C.t, Chlamydia trachomatis; +, positive; −, negative; IL, interleukin; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; TGF, transforming growth factor; IFN, interferon.