title: Genetic variation in the recognition of Porphyromonas gingivalis antigens in mice.
abstract: T-cell cytokine profiles, anti-Porphyromonas gingivalis antibodies and Western blot analysis of antibody responses were examined in BALB/c, CBA/CaH, C57BL6 and DBA/2J mice immunized intraperitoneally with different doses of P. gingivalis outer membrane antigens. Splenic CD4 and CD8 cells were examined for intracytoplasmic interleukin (IL)-4, interferon (IFN)-gamma and IL-10 by FACS analysis and levels of anti-P. gingivalis antibodies in the serum samples determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot analysis was performed on the sera from mice immunized with 100 microg of P. gingivalis antigens. The four strains of mice demonstrated varying degrees of T-cell immunity, although the T-cell cytokine profiles exhibited by each strain were not affected by different immunizing doses. While BALB/c and DBA/2J mice exhibited responses that peaked at immunizing doses of 100-200 microg of P. gingivalis antigens, CBA/CaH and C57BL6 demonstrated weak T-cell responsiveness compared with control mice. Like the T-cell responses, serum antibody levels were not dose dependent. DBA/2J exhibited the lowest levels of anti-P. gingivalis antibodies followed by BALB/c with CBA/CaH and C57BL6 mice demonstrating the highest levels. Western blot analysis showed that there were differences in reactivity between the strains to a group of 13 antigens ranging in molecular weight from 15 to 43 kDa. Antibody responses to a number of these bands in BALB/c mice were of low density, whereas CBA/CaH and C57BL6 mice demonstrated high-density bands and DBA/2J mice showed medium to high responses. In conclusion, different immunizing doses of P. gingivalis outer membrane antigens had little effect on the T-cell cytokine responses and serum anti-P. gingivalis antibody levels. Western blot analysis, however, indicated that the four strains of mice exhibited different reactivity to some lower-molecular-weight antigens. Future studies are required to determine the significance of these differences, which may affect the outcome of P. gingivalis infection.
authors.affiliation: Immunopathology Laboratory, Oral Biology and Pathology, School of Dentistry, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gemmell
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sernia
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Grieco
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Seymour
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D007114:Immunization; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008970:Molecular Weight; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma