The proportion of interleukin‐4, interferon‐gamma and interleukin‐10‐positive cells in Porphyromonas gingivalis–specific T‐cell lines established from P. gingivalis–positive subjects

Abstract

T-cell cytokine profiles in ten adult periodontitis and seven age-matched healthy or gingivitis subjects were determined. Porphyromonas gingivalis-specific T-cell lines were established from the peripheral blood of these individuals all of whom had past or present evidence of P. gingivalis infection. FACS analysis was used to determine the percentage of CD4- and CD8-positive cells in each line staining for cytoplasmic interleukin (IL)-4, interferon-gamma and IL-10. There were no differences in the mean percentage of IL-4-, interferon-gamma- or IL-10-positive T cells between the two groups. However, the individual profiles showed that the CD4 cells in five of the seven healthy or gingivitis lines had a higher proportion of interferon-gamma-positive cells, with two lines demonstrating higher percentages of IL-10- and/or IL-4-positive CD4 cells. Five of the ten adult periodontitis lines demonstrated either equal or higher percentages of IL-4-positive and/or IL-10-positive CD4 cells. With respect to the CD8 cells, two of the seven lines established from the healthy or gingivitis subjects and six of the ten adult periodontitis lines showed profiles with a higher percentage IL-4- and/or IL-10-positive cells. When the total T-cell contribution (CD4 plus CD8) for each T-cell line was determined from the individual CD4:CD8 ratios, only one of the healthy or gingivitis lines showed a profile with a higher proportion of IL-10-positive cells, while the results for the adult periodontitis lines were the same as indicated for the CD4 cell profiles, with five lines showing a higher percentage of IL-4- and/or IL-10-positive cells. In conclusion, this study has shown that in P. gingivalis-responsive T-cell lines established from adult periodontitis and healthy or gingivitis subjects, there was a predominant trend towards a higher percentage of interferon-gamma positive cells than either IL-4- or IL-10-positive cells. However, there were variations from this trend, although whether these variations indicate true susceptibility to progressive disease has yet to be determined.

Porphyromonas gingivalisInfection during Pregnancy Increases Maternal Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha, Suppresses Maternal Interleukin-10, and Enhances Fetal Growth Restriction and Resorption in Mice

“…Intrachamber P. gingivalis immunization may induce the production of Th1 cells specific for P. gingivalis locally and systemically (21,22), and a low-dose subsequent challenge with live P. gingivalis could activate these Th1 cells to secrete higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-␣) and suppress the production of antiinflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-10). It is also possible that the activated maternal innate immune system (such as monocyte/macrophage activation) secretes TNF-␣ and IL-6 following infection or LPS stimulation (38,41).…”

P. gingivalis-specific T-cell Lines Produce Th1 and Th2 Cytokines

“…These LCL were prepared as described previously (Gemmell et al, 1998(Gemmell et al, , 1999 and used to stimulate the P. gingivalis-specific T-cell lines at least 3 times (5-6 wks in culture). We stained the T-cells again to determine the cytokine profiles of each line.…”

The Role of Acquired Immunity and Periodontal Disease Progression

“…In addition, there is a more restricted TCR V␣ gene usage than V␤ in the responding T-cell pool, suggesting that at least A. actinomycetemcomitans possesses no SAg characteristics. Additional studies have also come to the same conclusion about this particular and some other periodontal microorganisms (Mathur et al, 1995;Petit and Stashenko, 1996;Gemmell et al, , 1999. It is important that both cellular and molecular criteria regarding SAg characteristics be considered and applied before one can draw any definitive conclusion.…”