title: Interaction of Porphyromonas gingivalis with gingival epithelial cells maintained in culture.
abstract: Interactions between Porphyromonas gingivalis and gingival epithelial cells were investigated. Gingival epithelial cells were cultured from surgically removed gingival tissue. Electron microscopy demonstrated adherence of P. gingivalis to the cell membranes and microvilli followed by internalization of the bacteria into the epithelial cell cytoplasm. Saliva from healthy and periodontally diseased patients inhibited P. gingivalis association with the epithelial cells. Attachment to and penetration of gingival epithelial cells by P. gingivalis may be important virulence factors in periodontal disease. Salivary molecules may play a role in modulating these interactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology and Periodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Washington, Seattle.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lamont
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Persson
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Persson
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000382:microbiology; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000502:physiology; D014774:Virulence