Toll-Like Receptor 2 Mediates Persistent Chemokine Release by <i>Chlamydia pneumoniae</i> –Infected Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Abstract

The results show that VSMCs express functional TLR2 and that TLR2 mediates both a persistent activation of chemokine release in C pneumoniae-infected VSMCs and its acute stimulation by extracellular C pneumoniae. Therefore, TLR2 expressed in VSMCs may promote inflammation within the arterial wall.