NF-κB activation is not required for Chlamydia trachomatis inhibition of host epithelial cell apoptosis

Chlamydia trachomatis, an obligate intracellular bacterial species, is known to inhibit host cell apoptosis. However, the chlamydial antiapoptotic mechanism is still not clear. Because NF-κB activation is antiapoptotic, we tested the potential role of NF-κB activation in chlamydial antiapoptotic activity in the current study. First, no obvious NF-κB activation was detected in the chlamydia-infected cells when these cells were resistant to apoptosis induced via either the intrinsic or extrinsic apoptosis pathways. Second, inhibition of NF-κB activation with pharmacologic reagents failed to block the chlamydial antiapoptotic activity. Finally, NF-κB p65 gene deletion did not prevent chlamydia from inhibiting host cell apoptosis. These observations together have demonstrated that NF-κB activation is not required for the chlamydial antiapoptotic activity.