Clinical Consequences of Immune Responses to Chlamydia in Men

halamydia trachomatis (C.t.) has been involved in variety of pathological conditions ofthe female and male genital tracts. Chronic female persistent infections due to this micro-organism have been recently investigated, but the role of C.t. has not been completely clarified especially in acute and chronic pathologies of the male genital tract. The immunocompetency of the female and male genital tract is well documentedl,Z; the production of secretory IgA (SIgA) can take place in the fallopian tubes, uterine cervix and vagina, prostate and the epididymis, resulting in local production of SIgA by submucosal plasma cells present in a quantity greater than plasma cells producing IgM and IgG. During infections, increased numbers of these three classes of plasma cells are present. Specific SIgA against various infectious agents, such as Escherichia coli and Chlamydia trachomatis,4’5’6 are produced in pathological conditions of the genital tract. SIgA mediates the protection of mucosal membrane by interfering with microbial adherence to mucosal surfaces and by inhibiting the penetration of potentially harmful micro-organisms into mucosal tissues. IgA occurs in serum and secretions as