Neisseria gonorrhoeae induces local secretion of IL-10 at the human cervix to promote asymptomatic colonization

Gonorrhea, caused by the human-restricted pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is a commonly reported sexually transmitted infection. Since most infections in women are asymptomatic, the true number of infections is likely much higher than reported. How gonococci (GC) colonize womens vaginocervix without triggering symptoms remains elusive. Using a human cervical tissue explant model, we found that GC inoculation increased the local secretion of both pro- (IL-1{beta} and TNF-) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines during the first 24-h. Cytokine induction required GC expression of an Opa isoform that binds the host receptors carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAMs). GC inoculation induced NF-{kappa}B activation in both cervical epithelial and subepithelial cells. However, inhibition of NF-{kappa}B activation, which reduced GC-induced IL-1{beta} and TNF-, did not affect GC colonization. Neutralizing IL-10 or blocking IL-10 receptors by antibodies reduced GC colonization by increasing epithelial shedding and epithelial cell-cell junction disassembly. Inhibition of the CEACAM downstream signaling molecule SHP1/2, which reduced GC colonization and increased epithelial shedding, reduced GC-induced IL-10 secretion. These results show that GC induce local IL-10 secretion at the cervix by engaging the host CEACAMs to prevent GC-colonizing epithelial cells from shedding while suppressing inflammation activation, providing a potential mechanism for GC asymptomatic infection in women.