Immunoglobulin isotype distribution of locally produced autoantibodies to collagen type I in adult periodontitis. Relationship to periodontal treatment.
Production of antibodies to collagen type I was analyzed by means of an enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay in patients with chronic adult periodontitis (AP) before and after periodontal hygiene treatment. Anti-collagen type I antibody-secreting cells were found among mononuclear cells enzymatically eluted from inflamed gingiva in 9 of 15 patients with untreated AP and in 4 of 14 hygiene-treated patients with a varied isotype distribution. A notably high prevalence of IgG and IgM isotypes was observed for the anti-collagen antibodies in untreated patients. With wide variation, chronic AP was characterized by a high frequency of spontaneous IgG and low numbers of IgA and IgM-producing cells. Periodontal hygiene treatment significantly reduced the number of IgA and IgM-secreting cells. Although AP is not an autoimmune disease in the accepted sense, our results indicate that local autoimmune reactions to collagen type I are common in untreated AP, implying an interplay between periodontal infection and autoimmunity.
Jonsson
R
R
Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294.
Pitts
A
A
Lue
C
C
Gay
S
S
Mestecky
J
J
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000737:chemistry*; D003094:Collagen / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000737:chemistry*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology*; D010517:Periodontics / Q000592:standards*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D003094:Collagen