Deficiency of LIGHT signaling pathway exacerbates Chlamydia psittaci respiratory tract infection in mice.

LIGHT, a costimulatory member of the immunoglobulin superfamily (Ig SF), can greatly impact T cell activation. The role of the LIGHT signaling pathway in chlamydial infection was evaluated in mice following respiratory tract infection with Chlamydia psittaci. Compared with wild type (WT) mice, LIGHT knockout (KO) mice showed significant reduction of body weight, much lower survival rate, higher bacterial burden, prolonged infection time courses and more severe pathological changes in lung tissue.

[Role of LIGHT signal pathway in Chlamydia muridarum urogenital infection in mice].

Objective: To study the role of lymphotoxin-like inducible protein that competes with glycoprotein D for herpesvirus entry on T cells (LIGHT) in the development of protective immunity and pathology during Chlamydia Muridarum urogenital infection in mice.

Methods: C57BL/6J wild type (wt) and mice deficient in LIGHT (LIGHT KO) were inoculated intravaginally with 1 x 10(4) IFUs of live C. muridarum organisms.