Inhibition of fibroblast apoptosis by Borrelia afzelii, Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella henselae.

Apoptosis is a genetically controlled mechanism of cell death involved in the regulation of tissue homeostasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of Borrelia afzelii, Coxiella burnetii, and Bartonella henselae bacteria on apoptosis measured as the level of caspase 3 activity in human fibroblast cells HEL-299. Our findings show that C. burnetii bacteria may inhibit the process of apoptosis in the host cells for a long time. This can permit intracellular survival in the host and mediatingthe development of chronic disease.