Shear Stress Enhances Chemokine Secretion from -infected Monocytes.

is a common respiratory pathogen that is considered a highly likely risk factor for atherosclerosis. C. pneumoniae is disseminated from the lung into systemic circulation via infected monocytes and lodges at the atherosclerotic sites. During transit, C. -infected monocytes in circulation are subjected to shear stress due to blood flow. The effect of mechanical stimuli on infected monocytes is largely understudied in the context of infection and inflammation. We hypothesized that fluid shear stress alters the inflammatory response of -infected monocytes and contributes to immune cell recruitment to the site of tissue damage. Using an model of blood flow, we determined that a physiological shear stress of 7.5 dyn/cm for 1 h on -infected monocytes enhances the production of several chemokines, which in turn is correlated with the recruitment of significantly large number of monocytes. Taken together, these results suggest synergistic interaction between mechanical and chemical factors in infection and associated inflammation.