Chlamydia trachomatis Infection of Human Mesothelial Cells Alters Proinflammatory, Procoagulant, and Fibrinolytic Responses

In this study we demonstrate the capability of Chlamydia trachomatis to infect cultured human mesothelial cell (MC) monolayers and to induce the production of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and IL-8. Seventy-two hours after initial infection, both the procoagulant activity of MC and the activity of the fibrinolytic inhibitor (plasminogen activator inhibitor 1) in the supernatants were enhanced. These findings support the hypothesis that provoked proinflammatory responses contribute to the development of complications after chlamydial infection.