Author: Shimauchi H, Ogawa T.
Source: Interface Oral Health Science
Year: 2007
Comment:
Abstract / Excerpt:
Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), a Gram-negative anaerobic black-pigmented rod bacterium, has been recognized as the most potent etiologic bacte-rium in human chronic periodontitis. It possesses a variety of putative virulence factors providing both tissue destruction and host evasion including lipopolysac-charides (LPS), fi mbriae, various proteinases, etc. These factors actively participate in periodontal tissue destruction. However, recent evidence suggests that Pg has also evolved mechanisms to inhibit or confuse host immune systems. Thus, Pg is suggested to behave not only like an “active invader”, but also like a “stealth element” in periodontal lesions. In the present study, repeated exposure of Pg components induced tolerance resulting in selective inhibition of cytokine produc-tion of both monocytes and gingival fi broblasts in a different fashion from that described for LPS in Escherichia coli. It was also revealed that Pg LPS induced a unique dendritic cell subset with a CD14+CD16+ phenotype that exhibited weak maturation. In animal studies, administration of live Pg or its LPS exerted a regula-tory effect on systemic markers such as triglycerides or adiponectin. Taken together, these fi ndings suggest that Pg may be able to adapt to the local immune defense, contributing to the connection between systemic and periodontal disease.
Citation: Shimauchi H, Ogawa T. Implication of immune interactions in bacterial virulence: is Porphyromonas gingivalis an “Invader” or “Stealth Element” in periodontal lesions?. In Interface Oral Health Science 2007 2007 (pp. 63-72). Springer, Tokyo.