Butyrate reverts Chlamydia pneumoniae -induced transcriptional suppression of macrophage polarization markers and promotes chlamydial clearance in macrophages

Butyrate reverts Chlamydia pneumoniae-induced suppression of macrophage polarization markers and LL37, and it reduces bacterial genome copies and progeny in THP-1 macrophages.

• Why it matters: Chlamydia infections can persist in macrophages with antibiotic-refractory phenotypes, and diet-derived metabolites may help restore host immune functions.
• What they did: THP-1 macrophages infected with Chlamydia pneumoniae or Chlamydia trachomatis were treated with acetate, propionate, or butyrate, and polarization marker and LL37 expression were measured, alongside bacterial burden and azithromycin efficacy.
• The result: Chlamydia pneumoniae suppressed CD80, TLR4, CD64, CD204, CD206, and LL37, while butyrate reverted these in infected macrophages and enhanced azithromycin’s chlamydiocidal effect.

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