title: Development and characterization of Porphyromonas gingivalis-specific rat T-cell clones.
abstract: Porphyromonas gingivalis has been implicated as a major pathogen in periodontitis. To determine the role of T cells in the regulation of this disease, a method was developed for the generation and characterization of rat T-cell clones with antigen specificity to P. gingivalis whole cells. The clones studied so far demonstrated a T-helper (Th) phenotype W3/13+, W3/25+, OX8- and OX22-. These T-cell clones proliferated in vitro in response to P. gingivalis, but not to other bacteria (Prevotella intermedia, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Wolinella recta, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus sanguis). Limiting dilution analysis showed W3/25+, OX8- T cells preferentially respond to P. gingivalis, rather than W3/25-, OX8+ T cells. P. gingivalis-reactive W3/25+ T cells belonged to the OX22- population, suggesting that the OX22- T cells may represent memory cells. All clones tested produced interferon gamma, but not interleukin 2. The cloned T-cell F1 significantly enhanced P. gingivalis-specific antibody production (p < 0.03). The availability of these cloned T cells should bring new insight into the mechanism by which T cells regulate oral health and periodontal disease.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D002999:Clone Cells; D000939:Epitopes; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D013045:Species Specificity; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D000939:Epitopes; D007371:Interferon-gamma