Trace element balance is changed in infected organs during acute Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection in mice

Abstract

Most infectious diseases are accompanied by changed levels of several trace elements in the blood. However, sequential changes in trace elements in tissues harbouring bacterial infections have not been studied. In the present study the respiratory pathogen Chlamydophila pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae), adapted to C57BL/6J mice, was used to study whether the balance of trace elements is changed in infected organs. Bacteria were quantitatively measured by real-time PCR in the blood, lungs, liver, aorta, and heart on days 2, 5, and 8 of the infection. Concentrations of 13 trace elements were measured in the liver, heart, and serum by inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS). Infected mice developed expected clinical signs of disease and bacteria were found in lungs, liver, and heart on all days. The number of bacteria peaked on day 2 in the heart and on day 5 in the liver. The copper/zinc (Cu/Zn) ratio in serum increased as a response to the infection. Cu increased in the liver but did not change in the heart. Iron (Fe) in serum decreased progressively, whereas in the heart it tended to increase, and in the liver it progressively increased. C. pneumoniae may thus cause a changed trace element balance in target tissues of infection that may be pivotal for bacterial growth.

Alterations of Serum Copper and Zinc Levels, and Copper/Zinc Ratios Among Patients with Brucellosis

“…erum trace elements, especially Cu and Zn, are critically important in the human body and Cu and Zn serum levels change over the course of various diseases, including malignancy, diabetes, hypertension, gastric ulcer, psychoses, cirrhosis and infectious diseases. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] In the human body, these elements are an important components of many metalloenzymes. Acute phase reactants, infections and/or inflammation lead to elevated serum Cu levels and decreased serum Zn levels via cytokines, especially interleukin-1.…”

“…Acute phase reactants, infections and/or inflammation lead to elevated serum Cu levels and decreased serum Zn levels via cytokines, especially interleukin-1. 4,8,10 Increased levels of serum Cu are attributed to inflammationrelated diseases and decreased levels of serum Zn suppresses the invasion of microorganisms. 11 These alterations in the levels of serum Cu and serum Zn have been reported to take place at the incubation period of microorganisms.…”

“…11 These alterations in the levels of serum Cu and serum Zn have been reported to take place at the incubation period of microorganisms. 4,5 The alterations in these trace elements result from the non-specific immune defense mechanisms in the human body. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] An increased serum Cu/Zn ratio has been reported to be used as an indicator for infectious diseases before development of clinical disease.…”

“…4,5 The alterations in these trace elements result from the non-specific immune defense mechanisms in the human body. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] An increased serum Cu/Zn ratio has been reported to be used as an indicator for infectious diseases before development of clinical disease. 4,5,12 Different studies have investigated the diagnostic value or metabolic alterations of Cu and Zn, particularly in infectious diseases.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] An increased serum Cu/Zn ratio has been reported to be used as an indicator for infectious diseases before development of clinical disease. 4,5,12 Different studies have investigated the diagnostic value or metabolic alterations of Cu and Zn, particularly in infectious diseases. 1,2,4,5,11,13,14 Brucellosis is a zoonotic infectious disease that is endemic in the Southeastern region of Turkey.…”