Conjunctival transcriptome profiling of Solomon Islanders with active trachoma in the absence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection

• DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2682-2
• Publication Date: 2018-02-21T13:01:35Z
• Authors: Hristina Vasileva; Robert Butcher; Harry Pickering; Oliver Sokana; Kelvin Jack; Anthony W. Solomon; Martin J. Holland; Chrissy h. Roberts
• Keywords: Parasitology

Clinical signs of active (inflammatory) trachoma are found in many children the Solomon Islands, but majority these individuals have no serological evidence previous infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. In Temotu and Rennell Bellona provinces, ocular infections C. trachomatis were seldom detected among trachoma; a similar lack association was seen between other common bacterial viral causes follicular conjunctivitis. Here, we set out to characterise patterns gene expression at conjunctivae provinces without clinical trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) infection. Purified RNA from run on Affymetrix GeneChip Human Transcriptome Array 2.0 microarrays. Profiles compared TF (group DI; n = 6), D; 7), or N; 7). Differential enrichment for pathway membership assessed. Conjunctival profiles more within-group than between-group. Principal components analysis indicated that first second principal combined explained almost 50% variance dataset. When comparing DI group N group, genes involved T-cell proliferation, B-cell signalling CD8+ T cell pathways differentially regulated. D regulation, interferon-gamma IL17 production enriched. Genes transcription translation upregulated when group. Gene Islands indicate immune responses consistent concurrent. The transcriptomes identified not allergic