No abstract

Porphyromonas gingivalis, implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontitis, can adhere to epithelial cells and gingival fibroblasts. This study employed flow cytometry to evaluate the adherence of P. gingivalis to epithelial cells under various conditions. The cell lines SK-MES and KB were used in the first experiments. The P. gingivalis strains employed were ATCC 33277, ATCC 49417 and W83. Different adherence conditions were tested (contact time, bacteria/cell ratio, contact temperature). In later experiments, adherence of P. gingivalis to human gingival epithelial cells (GEC) obtained by explant was studied under various conditions. Results showed that P. gingivalis had a high affinity for buccal keratinocytes compared with SK-MES. Adherence showed a level of saturation. The number of receptors may be limited for each epithelial cell line, and there may be more receptors for gingival keratinocytes. Depending on contact time, P. gingivalis showed a higher affinity for GEC, compared with the other two lines. P. gingivalis thus showed specific adherence for a host cell type from a site associated with periodontal disease.

The mechanisms by which Porphyromonas gingivalis, a gram-negative anaerobic bacterium, is pathogenic for the periodontium remain largely hypothetical. Invasion of host tissues by P. gingivalis is believed to require adhesion of the bacterium to host cells. The aim of this study was to use monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to characterize the bacterial cell surface component(s) acting as a ligand binding to a receptor on epithelial cells. Surface antigens of P. gingivalis ATCC 33277 were obtained as a glass bead-EDTA extract (GBE), and antiserum against the GBE was produced in rabbits. Epithelial cell membrane proteins (ECMP) were prepared from a homogenate of the SK-MES-1 cell line with Triton X-100. The antigen/ligand profile of GBE was resolved by crossed immunoaffinity electrophoresis by using ECMP in the first-dimension gel. The migration of one immunoprecipitate (IP) was retarded, indicating a ligand-receptor interaction between a surface antigen of P. gingivalis and a complementary binding site on the epithelial cell membrane. The corresponding IP in the GBE/anti-GBE immunoelectrophoresis profile was excised from replicate gels to immunize mice for production of MAbs specific for the bacterial ligand. Five MAbs were obtained and tested for reactivity with GBE in immunoblots and for inhibition of the interaction between GBE and ECMP. Immunoblots revealed polypeptides at 28, 42, 43, and 49 kDa. Inhibition tests were positive for all five MAbs. These results are conclusive evidence that the MAbs recognize functional epitopes involved in the adherence of P. gingivalis to epithelial cells and that the adhesins are likely associated with fimbriae and the hemagglutinating adhesin HA-Ag2.

The protein profiles of Porphyromonas gingivalis (ATCC 33277 and W83) bound to KB gingival epithelial cells were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. We found that a 51-kDa component was formed in bacteria that adhered to the KB cells, whereas 26- to 29-kDa bands were less intensive, in contrast to the protein profile of free bacteria. P. gingivalis ATCC 33277 incubated with protease-treated KB cells retained the profile of free bacteria. These results demonstrate the specificity of bacterial recognition of eukaryotic membrane components.

Monoclonal antibodies characterized as antifimbria and anti-HA-Ag2 were used in immunoblotting to examine the antigenic distribution of fimbriae and HA-Ag2 among a collection of human and animal Porphyromonas strains and human Prevotella and Bacteroides strains. The results showed that fimbrial and HA-Ag2 antigenic structures are peculiar to the species Porphyromonas gingivalis.