Inhibited proliferation of human periodontal ligament cells and gingival fibroblasts by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans: involvement of the cytolethal distending toxin

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans can inhibit fibroblast proliferation. The objective of this study was to characterize the early proliferative responses of human periodontal ligament cells (PDLC) and gingival fibroblasts (GF) to A. actinomycetemcomitans components and to investigate the possible involvement of the cytolethal distending toxin (cdt) produced by this bacterium. The PDLC and GF were challenged with surface components of A. actinomycetemcomitans. Both DNA and protein synthesis as well as cell lysis or apoptosis were assayed for a 6-h period after addition of the bacterial extract. Unlike the controls, inhibition of DNA synthesis had already occurred in the challenged cells at the end of the initial 3- to 6-h period. No lysis or apoptosis was detected, and the total protein synthesis remained unaffected. The persistence of the effect on cell growth was confirmed after a 72-h period of challenge, during which the cells remained viable but exhibited an elongated and distended cell body. No significant differences were observed between PDLC and GF. When a cdt-knockout strain of A. actinomycetemcomitans was used almost no inhibitory effect on cell proliferation was observed. It was concluded that A. actinomycetemcomitans causes a non-lethal inhibition of proliferation in PDLC and GF as a result of an early arrest of DNA synthesis. Cytolethal distending toxin is responsible for most of this effect. This bacterial property may compromise tissue homeostasis in the periodontium.     

伴放线放线杆菌细胞膨胀致死毒素重组蛋白的表达

目的 通过分子克隆技术构建细胞膨胀致死毒素(cytolethal distending toxin,CDT)的重组表达载体,并诱导重组CDT蛋白的表达,以期为重组CDT蛋白的生物学功能研究奠定基础.方法 采用聚合酶链反应(PCR)扩增获得CDT的编码基因cdtABC,通过TA克隆和限制性酶切将cdtABC与目的载体pQE60连接,转化感受态大肠杆菌后诱导重组COT蛋白的表达,收集细菌总蛋白进行十二烷基硫酸钠聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和蛋白质印迹法鉴定.结果 pQE60-cdtABC转染的感受态大肠杆菌中均携带cdtABC基因,该片段与GenBank中的DNA一致性高达99%.细菌总蛋白中21 000、25 000、32 000左右的蛋白增多,蛋白质印迹法检测发现带有6-His标记的目的蛋白.结论 本研究成功构建了CDT的重组表达载体,并诱导重组CDT蛋白的表达.     

Detection of cytolethal distending toxin activity and cdt genes in Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans isolates from geographically diverse populations

A cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) found in Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans inhibits the eukaryotic cell cycle, which may contribute to the pathogenic potential of the bacterium. The presence of the cdtABC genes and CDT activity were examined in 40 clinical isolates of A. actinomycetemcomitans from Brazil, Kenya, Japan and Sweden. Thirty-nine of 40 cell lysates caused distension of Chinese hamster ovary cells. At least one of the cdt genes was detected in all strains examined. The three cdt genes were detected, by PCR, in 34 DNA samples. DNA from one strain from Kenya did not yield amplicons of the cdtA and cdtB genes and did not express toxic activity. Restriction analysis was performed on every amplicon obtained. PCR-RFLP patterns revealed that the three cdt genes were conserved. These data provided evidence that the cdt genes are found and expressed in the majority of the A. actinomycetemcomitans isolates. Although a quantitative difference in cytotoxicity was observed, indicating variation in expression of CDT among strains, no clear relationship between CDT activity and periodontal status was found.     

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in human periodontal disease

Recent evidence implicates Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in the etiology of localized juvenile periodontitis. This paper reviews the morphological, biochemical and serological charcteristics of A. actinomycetemcomitans, evidence incriminating it as a periodontopathogen, its importance in human nonoral infections, and virulence factors which may be involved in the pathogenesis of A. actinomycetemcomitans infections. A. actinomycetemcomitans is a non-motile, gram-negative, capnophilic, fermentative coccobacillus which closely resembles several Haemophilus species but which does not require X or V growth factors. The organism has been categorized into 10 biotypes based on the variable fermentation of dextrin, maltose, mannitol, and xylose and into 3 serotypes on the basis of heat stable, cell surface antigens. A. actinomycetemcomitans' primary human ecologic niche is the oral cavity. It is found in dental plaque, in periodontal pockets, and buccal mucosa in up to 36% of the normal population. The organism can apparently seed from these sites to cause severe infections throughout the human body such as brain abscesses and endocarditis. There is a large body of evidence which implicates A. actinomycetemcomitans as an important micro-organism in the etiology of localized juvenile periodontitis including: (1) an increased prevalence of the organism in almost all localized juvenile periodontitis patients and their families compared to other patient groups; (2) the observation that localized juvenile periodontitis patients exhibit elevated antibody levels to A. actinomycetemcomitans in serum, saliva and gingival crevicular fluid; (3) the finding that localized juvenile periodontitis can be successfully treated by eliminating A. actinomycetemcomitans from periodontal pockets; (4) histopathologic investigations showing that A. actinomycetemcomitans invades the gingival connective tissue in localized juvenile periodontitis lesions; (5) the demonstration of several pathogenic products from A. actinomycetemcomitans including factors which may: (a) facilitate its adherence to mucosal surfaces such as capsular polysaccharides; (b) inhibit host defense mechanisms including leukotoxin, a polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis inhibiting factor, and a lymphocyte suppressing factor (c) cause tissue destruction such as lipopolysaccharide endotoxin, a bone resorption-inducing toxin, acid and alkaline phosphatases, collagenase, a fibroblast inhibiting factor and an epitheliotoxin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

细胞致死性扩张毒素和外膜蛋白的结构功能和致病机制

伴放线放线杆菌是青少年牙周病的主要致病菌,与侵袭性牙周炎密切相关。伴放线放线杆菌细胞致死性扩张毒素（CDT）和外膜蛋白（OMP）等毒力因子使其更易定植到宿主体内,破坏宿主的免疫调节,从而进一步引起牙周组织破坏和加速牙周病的进展。本文主要就CDT和OMP毒力因子目前的结构功能及致病机制作一综述,以期对其深入研究有所帮助。     

Characterization of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans isolated from young Chinese aggressive periodontitis patients

OBJECTIVE: This study characterized Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans isolates from young Chinese aggressive periodontitis patients. METHODS: Subgingival plaque samples (two/subject) were collected from diseased subjects < 25 years old (n = 9, mean age 21.1 +/- 1.6 years) and age-matched periodontitis-free controls (n = 47, mean age 22.0 +/- 1.1 years). Selective and anaerobic culture were used. The serotype, leukotoxin gene (ltx) operon promoter and the cytolethal distending toxin (cdt) genes complex of the A. actinomycetemcomitans isolates were investigated. Effects of the isolates on non-keratinizing periodontal ligament epithelial cells monolayer were studied. RESULTS: Diseased subjects had significantly higher full-mouth bleeding score (p = 0.002) and total viable counts from plaque samples (7.2 x 10(6) vs. 2.1 x 10(5) CFU/paperpoint, p < 0.005). A. actinomycetemcomitans was isolated from 67%/56% or 6%/4% of diseased or controls subject/sites, respectively (p < 0.001). The proportion of A. actinomycetemcomitans isolatable from aggressive periodontitis or periodontitis-free associated subgingival plaque was low (0.7% vs. 0.1%, p < 0.02). The serotype of the isolates was characterized. All isolates possessed 652-like ltx gene promoter and all but one serotype c isolate from a diseased patient had intact cdtABC genes. That particular strain appeared to confer the least cellular damages on periodontal ligament epithelial monolayer compared to others. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study confirmed the notion of increased prevalence and quantity of A. actinomycetemcomitans associated with aggressive periodontitis in young patients. The overall ltx promoter and cdt characteristics of the A. actinomycetemcomitans isolates, however, were similar among the diseased and control groups. A strain lacking the cdtABC gene appeared to be less damaging to a periodontal ligament epithelial cell model. Further studies therefore are warranted to clarify the pathogenic role and potentials of A. actinomycetemcomitans in aggressive periodontitis.     

Kinetics of KB and HEp-2 cell responses to an invasive,cytolethal distending toxin-producing strain of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans

The periodontal pathogen Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans produces cytolethal distending toxin (CDT), a complex multicomponent toxin that arrests the growth of many types of eukaryotic cell. The kinetics of the effects of CDT-containing extracts, from an invasive strain of this bacterium, were examined on epithelial-like cells routinely used in invasion studies. Both KB and HEp-2 cells were exquisitely sensitive to the effects of the CDT with TD50 of 30 and 300 pg of total bacterial protein, respectively. Initial cell morphology changes were relatively rapid, occurring within the first 13 h of exposure. CDT-treated KB cells increased in size to 4-5 times the size of untreated controls. Cytotoxicity was irreversible when attached cells were incubated, for a minimum of 120 min, with nanogram quantities of CDT-containing extract. As cultures aged, the cells became more resistant to the effects of the CDT-containing extracts. These findings have important implications for understanding the ability of A. actinomycetemcomitans to invade and multiply in epithelial cells.     

Inhibition of interferon-gamma-induced nitric oxide production in endotoxin-activated macrophages by cytolethal distending toxin

Introduction:  Cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) is a DNA-targeting agent produced by certain pathogenic gram-negative bacteria such as the periodontopathogenic organism Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans . CDT targets lymphocytes and other cells causing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, impairing the host immune response and contributing to the persistence of infections caused by this microorganism. In this study we explored the effects of CDT on the innate immune response, by investigating how it affects production of nitric oxide (NO) by macrophages.
Methods:  Murine peritoneal macrophages were stimulated with Escherichia coli sonicates and NO production was measured in the presence or not of active CDT.
Results:  We observed that CDT promptly and significantly inhibited NO production by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibition is directed towards interferon-γ-dependent pathways and is not mediated by either interleukin-4 or interleukin-10.
Conclusion:  This mechanism may constitute an important aspect of the immunosuppression mediated by CDT and may have potential clinical implications in A. actinomycetemcomitans infections.     

Evaluation of the humoral immune response to the cytolethal distending toxin of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans Y4 in subjects with localized aggressive periodontitis

Introduction: Cytolethal distending toxin (Cdt) is potentially one of several virulence factors of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, the prime etiological agent of localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP). Little is known regarding the Cdt‐specific antibody response in humans. The current study is a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the toxin‐specific antibody response in a cohort of LAP patients and age‐, race‐ and sex‐matched controls. Methods: Ninety‐five subjects provided a total of 692 serum samples. Sera were analysed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays to determine the titers of antibody against the intact Cdt holotoxin as well as the individual subunit proteins (CdtA, CdtB, and CdtC). Neutralization of growth inhibition mediated by Cdt was evaluated in a modified colony‐forming assay using Chinese hamster ovary cells. Results: Fourteen of the 95 subjects exhibited significant serum Cdt‐binding activity. There were no differences in the percentages of seropositive individuals or in the mean antibody titers between the control and LAP groups. Binding activity was detected against each of the three Cdt subunit proteins in all of the positive samples. Neutralization of Cdt‐mediated growth inhibition was detected in samples from all of the seropositive subjects (range 20–75%). Conclusions: Cdt, a recently identified A. actinomycetemcomitans virulence factor, is capable of inducing a neutralizing antibody response indicating that the toxin is produced during natural infection of humans. The failure of a vast majority (20 of 23) of the LAP subjects to mount a significant anti‐Cdt response may in part explain their relative susceptibility to the disease.     

Kinetics of KB and HEp‐2 cell responses to an invasive,cytolethal distending toxin‐producing strain of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans

The periodontal pathogen Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans produces cytolethal distending toxin (CDT), a complex multicomponent toxin that arrests the growth of many types of eukaryotic cell. The kinetics of the effects of CDT‐containing extracts, from an invasive strain of this bacterium, were examined on epithelial‐like cells routinely used in invasion studies. Both KB and HEp‐2 cells were exquisitely sensitive to the effects of the CDT with TD₅₀ of 30 and 300 pg of total bacterial protein, respectively. Initial cell morphology changes were relatively rapid, occurring within the first 13 h of exposure. CDT‐treated KB cells increased in size to 4–5 times the size of untreated controls. Cytotoxicity was irreversible when attached cells were incubated, for a minimum of 120 min, with nanogram quantities of CDT‐containing extract. As cultures aged, the cells became more resistant to the effects of the CDT‐containing extracts. These findings have important implications for understanding the ability of A. actinomycetemcomitans to invade and multiply in epithelial cells.     

Clonal diversity of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans isolates from young adults with minimal periodontal disease

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is a major periodontal pathogen which is associated with both early-onset periodontitis and adult cases refractory to conventional periodontal therapy, although the organism has also been shown to be widely distributed among dentate healthy individuals. The observed disease status may be associated with a variation in virulence of different strains or clones. The aim of the present study was to analyse genotype distribution as assessed by an arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR) among 51 isolates of A. actinomycetemcomitans recovered from more than 200 young adult recruits with no or minor periodontal disease. In addition, isolates from 25 periodontitis patients as well as reference strains were genotyped. Primers amplifying (i) a specific sequence in the ltxA region, (ii) a specific 16S rRNA sequence and (iii) sequences in the leukotoxin promoter region were used to verify species identity of the strains. Three random oligonucleotide primers were employed to analyse genomic polymorphisms of the organism by means of PCR. A total of 19 genotypes could be distinguished, which were grouped by cluster analysis into 5 major clusters based on genetic similarity and a complete linkage sort. Whereas 3 clusters assembled A. actinomycetemcomitans genotypes isolated from both healthy subjects and periodontitis patients, one cluster containing 4 different genotypes exclusively comprised isolates from healthy or gingivitis subjects. Another cluster with 2 genotypes consisted of strains originating from periodontitis patients (p < 0.05). One strain characterized by a specific 530 bp deletion in the promoter region of the leukotoxin region was identified in a Ghanese patient with localized juvenile periodontitis. It was concluded that there is considerable clonal diversity of A. actinomycetemcomitans strains isolated from healthy or periodontally diseased subjects, and that genetically closely related groups might be associated with health or disease.     

伴放线放线杆菌细胞膨胀致死毒素重组蛋白的表达

目的 通过分子克隆技术构建细胞膨胀致死毒素(cytolethal distending toxin,CDT)的重组表达载体,并诱导重组CDT蛋白的表达,以期为重组CDT蛋白的生物学功能研究奠定基础.方法 采用聚合酶链反应(PCR)扩增获得CDT的编码基因cdtABC,通过TA克隆和限制性酶切将cdtABC与目的载体pQE60连接,转化感受态大肠杆菌后诱导重组COT蛋白的表达,收集细菌总蛋白进行十二烷基硫酸钠聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和蛋白质印迹法鉴定.结果 pQE60-cdtABC转染的感受态大肠杆菌中均携带cdtABC基因,该片段与GenBank中的DNA一致性高达99%.细菌总蛋白中21 000、25 000、32 000左右的蛋白增多,蛋白质印迹法检测发现带有6-His标记的目的蛋白.结论 本研究成功构建了CDT的重组表达载体,并诱导重组CDT蛋白的表达.     

Induction of T-cell apoptosis by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans mutants with deletion of ltxA and cdtABC genes: possible activity of GroEL-like molecule

The pathogenic bacterium Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans expresses a leukotoxin (Ltx) and cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) with cytolytic properties. CDT also has cytostatic properties, inducing a G2 cell cycle block. The extent of the contribution of these, as well as other toxins, to the cytolytic and cytostatic activities of this microorganism have not been defined and the aim of this study was to determine their contribution. To that end, a naturally transformable A. actinomycetemcomitans clinical strain (D7S-smooth) was used to construct a series of deletion mutants (DeltacdtA, DeltacdtB, DeltacdtC, DeltacdtABC, DeltaltxA, DeltaltxA/DeltacdtABC). Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were incubated with cell-associated and extracellular bacterial preparations. The ability of wild type and isogenic mutants to induce T-cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest was compared. The expression of ltxA and each of the cdt gene loci partially contributed to A. actinomycetemcomitans apoptosis, since each of the isogenic mutants exhibited reduced ability to induce T-cell apoptosis. Conversely, the ability to induce cell cycle block was abolished in each of the cdt isogenic mutants. A mutant with simultaneous deletion of ltxA and cdtABC genes retained potent ability to induce apoptosis in its cell-associated, but not extracellular, preparation. Neutralization with Escherichia coli anti-GroEL monoclonal antibody, lead to significant diminution of apoptosis-inducing activity of the DeltaltxA/DeltacdtABC cell-associated preparation. These data provide evidence for the expression of other A. actinomycetemcomitans cytolytic molecule(s) distinct from CDT and leukotoxin, with a possible role for GroEL-like molecule in T-cell apoptosis.     

伴放线放线杆菌细胞致死性扩张毒素的细胞毒性研究

目的:体外诱导表达伴放线放线杆菌(Aqqregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans,Aa)细胞致死性扩张毒素(cytolethal distending toxin,CDT),观察其对中国仓鼠卵巢细胞(Chinese hamster ovary cell,CHO cell)和人宫颈癌上皮细胞(HeLa cell)的毒性作用。方法:诱导重组蛋白Aa CdtA、CdtB、CdtC的体外表达,采用镍亲和层析柱法纯化目的蛋白,体外重构Aa CDT全毒素。通过体外酶活性实验检测重组蛋白CdtB的生物学活性,并通过细胞克隆形成实验(Colony-forming experiment)及3-(4,5-二甲基噻唑-2)-2,5-二苯基四氮唑溴盐[3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphe nyltetrazolium bromide,MTT]比色法进一步观察CDT对CHO细胞和HeLa细胞的毒性作用。结果:由重组蛋白Aa CdtA、CdtB、CdtC体外重构获得的Aa CDT全毒素不仅抑制CHO细胞增殖,导致CHO细胞克隆形成单位(Colony-Forming Unit,CFU)数目减少甚至消失。也可抑制He-La细胞增殖并引起包括细胞体积增大及细胞核增大增多的细胞形态学改变,并且此增殖抑制作用呈浓度依赖性。结论:体外成功构建了具有生物学活性的Aa CDT全毒素,且Aa CDT毒性发挥需要三个亚基CdtA、CdtB、CdtC同时存在并构成三聚体。     

伴放线放线杆菌细胞膨胀致死毒素重组蛋白的表达

目的 通过分子克隆技术构建细胞膨胀致死毒素(cytolethal distending toxin,CDT)的重组表达载体,并诱导重组CDT蛋白的表达,以期为重组CDT蛋白的生物学功能研究奠定基础.方法 采用聚合酶链反应(PCR)扩增获得CDT的编码基因cdtABC,通过TA克隆和限制性酶切将cdtABC与目的载体pQE60连接,转化感受态大肠杆菌后诱导重组COT蛋白的表达,收集细菌总蛋白进行十二烷基硫酸钠聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和蛋白质印迹法鉴定.结果 pQE60-cdtABC转染的感受态大肠杆菌中均携带cdtABC基因,该片段与GenBank中的DNA一致性高达99%.细菌总蛋白中21 000、25 000、32 000左右的蛋白增多,蛋白质印迹法检测发现带有6-His标记的目的蛋白.结论 本研究成功构建了CDT的重组表达载体,并诱导重组CDT蛋白的表达.     

伴放线放线杆菌细胞膨胀致死毒素重组蛋白的表达

目的 通过分子克隆技术构建细胞膨胀致死毒素(cytolethal distending toxin,CDT)的重组表达载体,并诱导重组CDT蛋白的表达,以期为重组CDT蛋白的生物学功能研究奠定基础.方法 采用聚合酶链反应(PCR)扩增获得CDT的编码基因cdtABC,通过TA克隆和限制性酶切将cdtABC与目的载体pQE60连接,转化感受态大肠杆菌后诱导重组COT蛋白的表达,收集细菌总蛋白进行十二烷基硫酸钠聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和蛋白质印迹法鉴定.结果 pQE60-cdtABC转染的感受态大肠杆菌中均携带cdtABC基因,该片段与GenBank中的DNA一致性高达99%.细菌总蛋白中21 000、25 000、32 000左右的蛋白增多,蛋白质印迹法检测发现带有6-His标记的目的蛋白.结论 本研究成功构建了CDT的重组表达载体,并诱导重组CDT蛋白的表达.     

伴放线放线杆菌细胞膨胀致死毒素重组蛋白的表达

目的 通过分子克隆技术构建细胞膨胀致死毒素(cytolethal distending toxin,CDT)的重组表达载体,并诱导重组CDT蛋白的表达,以期为重组CDT蛋白的生物学功能研究奠定基础.方法 采用聚合酶链反应(PCR)扩增获得CDT的编码基因cdtABC,通过TA克隆和限制性酶切将cdtABC与目的载体pQE60连接,转化感受态大肠杆菌后诱导重组COT蛋白的表达,收集细菌总蛋白进行十二烷基硫酸钠聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和蛋白质印迹法鉴定.结果 pQE60-cdtABC转染的感受态大肠杆菌中均携带cdtABC基因,该片段与GenBank中的DNA一致性高达99%.细菌总蛋白中21 000、25 000、32 000左右的蛋白增多,蛋白质印迹法检测发现带有6-His标记的目的蛋白.结论 本研究成功构建了CDT的重组表达载体,并诱导重组CDT蛋白的表达.     

伴放线放线杆菌细胞膨胀致死毒素重组蛋白的表达

目的 通过分子克隆技术构建细胞膨胀致死毒素(cytolethal distending toxin,CDT)的重组表达载体,并诱导重组CDT蛋白的表达,以期为重组CDT蛋白的生物学功能研究奠定基础.方法 采用聚合酶链反应(PCR)扩增获得CDT的编码基因cdtABC,通过TA克隆和限制性酶切将cdtABC与目的载体pQE60连接,转化感受态大肠杆菌后诱导重组COT蛋白的表达,收集细菌总蛋白进行十二烷基硫酸钠聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和蛋白质印迹法鉴定.结果 pQE60-cdtABC转染的感受态大肠杆菌中均携带cdtABC基因,该片段与GenBank中的DNA一致性高达99%.细菌总蛋白中21 000、25 000、32 000左右的蛋白增多,蛋白质印迹法检测发现带有6-His标记的目的蛋白.结论 本研究成功构建了CDT的重组表达载体,并诱导重组CDT蛋白的表达.     

伴放线放线杆菌细胞膨胀致死毒素重组蛋白的表达

目的 通过分子克隆技术构建细胞膨胀致死毒素(cytolethal distending toxin,CDT)的重组表达载体,并诱导重组CDT蛋白的表达,以期为重组CDT蛋白的生物学功能研究奠定基础.方法 采用聚合酶链反应(PCR)扩增获得CDT的编码基因cdtABC,通过TA克隆和限制性酶切将cdtABC与目的载体pQE60连接,转化感受态大肠杆菌后诱导重组COT蛋白的表达,收集细菌总蛋白进行十二烷基硫酸钠聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和蛋白质印迹法鉴定.结果 pQE60-cdtABC转染的感受态大肠杆菌中均携带cdtABC基因,该片段与GenBank中的DNA一致性高达99%.细菌总蛋白中21 000、25 000、32 000左右的蛋白增多,蛋白质印迹法检测发现带有6-His标记的目的蛋白.结论 本研究成功构建了CDT的重组表达载体,并诱导重组CDT蛋白的表达.     

The immunoreactivity of systemic antibodies to Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis in adult periodontitis

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis secrete several potent virulence factors and are known to be two of the major periodontal pathogens. In the present case-control study, the systemic immunoreactivity to A. actinomycetemcomitans exotoxins, cytolethal distending toxin (Cdt) and leukotoxin was analyzed in adult subjects with periodontitis and in periodontally healthy controls. Furthermore, systemic immunoreactivity to P. gingivalis was analyzed in these subjects. Reactivity to the A. actinomycetemcomitans toxins was determined in bioassays that quantified neutralizing antibodies, and P. gingivalis antibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed a significantly enhanced immunoreactivity to P. gingivalis in the subjects with periodontitis, while the reactivity to A. actinomycetemcomitans leukotoxin showed no significant difference between patients and controls. However, combined immunoreactivity to leukotoxin and Cdt was more prevalent in the subjects with periodontitis than in the controls. In addition, immunoreactivity to leukotoxin correlated to periodontitis in men but not in women. In conclusion, data from the present study indicate that immunoreactivity to P. gingivalis is frequent in adult periodontitis, while the role of A. actinomycetemcomitans seems to be more complex and depends on gender of the infected subject as well as the virulence of the bacteria.