Interferon Regulatory Transcription Factor 3 Protects Mice from Uterine Horn Pathology during Chlamydia muridarum Genital Infection

Mice with the type I interferon (IFN) receptor gene knocked out (IFNAR KO mice) or deficient for alpha/beta IFN (IFN-alpha/beta) signaling clear chlamydial infection earlier than control mice and develop less oviduct pathology. Initiation of host IFN-beta transcription during an in vitro chlamydial infection requires interferon regulatory transcription factor 3 (IRF3). The goal of the present study was to characterize the influence of IRF3 on chlamydial genital infection and its relationship to IFN-beta expression in the mouse model. IRF3 KO mice were able to resolve infection as well as control mice, overcoming increased chlamydial colonization and tissue burden early during infection. As previously observed for IFNAR KO mice, IRF3 KO mice generated a potent antigen-specific T cell response. However, in contrast to IFNAR KO mice, IRF3 KO mice exhibited unusually severe dilatation and pathology in the uterine horns but normal oviduct pathology after infection. Although IFN-beta expression in vivo was dependent on the presence of IRF3 early in infection (before day 4), the IFN-independent function of IRF3 was likely driving this phenotype. Specifically, early during infection, the number of apoptotic cells and the number of inflammatory cells were significantly less in uterine horns from IRF3 KO mice than in those from control mice, despite an increased chlamydial burden. To delineate the effects of IFN-beta versus IRF3, neutralizing IFN-beta antibody was administered to wild-type (WT) mice during chlamydial infection. IFN-beta depletion in WT mice mimicked that in IFNAR KO mice but not that in IRF3 KO mice with respect to both chlamydial clearance and reduced oviduct pathology. These data suggest that IRF3 has a role in protection from uterine horn pathology that is independent of its function in IFN-beta expression.