How a Microbe Preserves Itself to Promote Gum Disease
Posted Feb 12 2010 6:06am
A scientific discovery at the University of Louisville uncovers a new mechanism how P. gingivalisa bacteria responsible for periodontal diseasesabotages the immune system and promotes inflammation for its own survival.
The finding of U of L School of Dentistry researcher George Hajishengallis and his team appears in the Feb. 16 issue of the journal Science Signaling. The discovery could have implications for treating periodontal diseasean infection that leads to the destruction of gum and bonecausing tooth loss. P. gingivalis also is believed to play a role in heart diseasestroke and other major systemic health problems.
The U of L researchers learned how P. gingivalis hijacks a complement proteinC5for communication with Toll-like receptors (TLRs). TypicallyTLRs notify a white blood cell of bacteria presence and then stimulate the cell to kill the pathogen. Moreoverin its active formC5 usually functions as a weapon for the hostas it recruits white blood cells that eat and destroy bacteria.
When P.gingivalis begins the hijacking mechanismit attacks the C5 molecule and selectively generates C5a for manipulation of white blood cells through an undermining communication mechanism between the C5a receptor and TLR2. This impairs the ability of the cells to kill this oral pathogen.
“P. gingivalis is very sophisticatedin that it activates aspects of white blood cell function that will help it and inhibits aspects that hurt it,” Hajishengallis said. “This is the first report of a pathogen capable of proactively instigating and exploiting communication signaling between complement and Toll-like receptorsrather than undermining either system independently. It’s like infiltrating between your enemy’s lines.”
Lab experiments confirm that blocking the C5a receptor inhibits both inflammation and the persistence of P. gingivalis. Hajishengallis and his team hope this mechanism will translate to humans as a way to prevent periodontal and potentially other systemic diseases.
A scientific discovery at the University of Louisville uncovers a new mechanism how P. gingivalisa bacteria responsible for periodontal diseasesabotages the immune system and promotes inflammation for its own survival.
PGGP
The finding of U of L School of Dentistry researcher George Hajishengallis and his team appears in the Feb. 16 issue of the journal Science Signaling. The discovery could have implications for treating periodontal diseasean infection that leads to the destruction of gum and bonecausing tooth loss. P. gingivalis also is believed to play a role in heart diseasestroke and other major systemic health problems.
The U of L researchers learned how P. gingivalis hijacks a complement proteinC5for communication with Toll-like receptors (TLRs). TypicallyTLRs notify a white blood cell of bacteria presence and then stimulate the cell to kill the pathogen. Moreoverin its active formC5 usually functions as a weapon for the hostas it recruits white blood cells that eat and destroy bacteria.
When P.gingivalis begins the hijacking mechanismit attacks the C5 molecule and selectively generates C5a for manipulation of white blood cells through an undermining communication mechanism between the C5a receptor and TLR2. This impairs the ability of the cells to kill this oral pathogen.
“P. gingivalis is very sophisticatedin that it activates aspects of white blood cell function that will help it and inhibits aspects that hurt it,” Hajishengallis said. “This is the first report of a pathogen capable of proactively instigating and exploiting communication signaling between complement and Toll-like receptorsrather than undermining either system independently. It’s like infiltrating between your enemy’s lines.”
Lab experiments confirm that blocking the C5a receptor inhibits both inflammation and the persistence of P. gingivalis. Hajishengallis and his team hope this mechanism will translate to humans as a way to prevent periodontal and potentially other systemic diseases.
From a University of Louisville media release
Filed under: dental healthperiodontal health Tagged: George Hajishengallisgingivitisgum diseaseoral bacteriap. gingivalisperiodontitisUniversity of Louisville