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. 2003;11(2):81–87. doi: 10.1080/10647440300025503

Imiquimod Does not Affect Shedding of Viable Chlamydiae in a Murine Model of Chlamydia trachomatis Genital Tract Infection

Kyle H Ramsey 1,✉, Namir Shaba 1, Kevin P Cohoon 1, Kevin A Ault 2
PMCID: PMC1852278  PMID: 14627213

Abstract

Objective: We postulated that either oral or vaginal administration of the immune response modifier imiquimod would decrease vaginal shedding of Chlamydia trachomatis, mouse pneumonitis strain (MoPn), in a murine model.

Methods: Female BALB/c mice were infected intravaginally withC. trachomatis (MoPn) and were administered imiquimod either orally (30 mg/kg) or vaginally (10 μl of 5%imiquimod cream) prior to infection and every second day after infection for a total of four doses. The course of infection was monitored by collecting cervical–vaginal swabs and isolation in HeLa 229 cell culture. To determine whether the drug affected T helper type 1 or T helper type 2 immune response polarization, immunoglobulinG(IgG) subclass antibody responses were assessed at day 56 after infection.

Results: There was no significant difference in the course of infection when imiquimod-treated mice were compared with sham-treated controls, regardless of whether the drug was administered orally or vaginally. IgG subclass antibody responses, and by extension, T helper type 1 to T helper type 2 immune response polarization, were also unaffected.

Conclusions: Imiquimod has no efficacy in controllingC. trachomatis (MoPn) infection in the murine model.

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Selected References

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