Characterization of a Murine Model ofUreaplasma urealyticumPneumonia

• DOI: 10.1128/iai.70.10.5721-5729.2002
• Publication Date: 2002-09-12T20:28:25Z
• Authors: Rose M. Viscardi; Jennifer Kaplan; Judith C. Lovchik; Ju Ren He; Lisa Hester; Srinivas Rao; Jeffrey D. Hasday
• Keywords: Ureaplasma urealyticum; Mycoplasmataceae; Ureaplasma

Ureaplasma urealyticum respiratory tract colonization in preterm infants has been associated with a high incidence of pneumonia and the development bronchopulmonary dysplasia. However, study this human pathogen hampered by absence animal models. We have developed first juvenile mouse model characterized histopathology during month following inoculation. C3H/HeN mice were inoculated intratracheally mouse-adapted clinical isolate (biovar 2) or sham 10B broth. Culture lung homogenates PCR DNA from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) confirmed presence 100% animals at 1 day, 60% 2 days, 50% 3 25% 7 14 days. was undetectable 28 days postinoculation. There marked changes BAL interstitial-cell composition increased number polymorphonuclear leukocytes to postinoculation macrophages The infection caused persistent focal loss airway ciliated epithelium mild increase interstitial cellularity. no differences protein concentration suggesting that pulmonary vascular endothelial barrier integrity remained intact. Comparison cytokine chemokine concentrations revealed low levels tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) monocyte chemoattractant Ureaplasma-infected but trend toward TNF-alpha granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating interleukin-10 These data suggest alone may cause limited inflammation minimal tissue injury early phase promote chronic inflammatory response later (days 28), similar process occurs newborns.