title: Oral microbial heat-shock proteins and their potential contributions to infections.
abstract: The oral cavity is a complex ecosystem in which several hundred microbial species normally cohabit harmoniously. However, under certain special conditions, the growth of some micro-organisms with a pathogenic potential is promoted, leading to infections such as dental caries, periodontal disease, and stomatitis. The physiology and pathogenic properties of micro-organisms are influenced by modifications in environmental conditions that lead to the synthesis of specific proteins known as the heat-shock proteins (HSPs). HSPs are families of highly conserved proteins whose main role is to allow micro-organisms to survive under stress conditions. HSPs act as molecular chaperones in the assembly and folding of proteins, and as proteases when damaged or toxic proteins have to be degraded. Several pathological functions have been associated with these proteins. Many HSPs of oral micro-organisms, particularly periodontopathogens, have been identified, and some of their properties-including location, cytotoxicity, and amino acid sequence homology with other HSPs-have been reported. Since these proteins are immunodominant antigens in many human pathogens, studies have recently focused on the potential contributions of HSPs to oral diseases. The cytotoxicity of some bacterial HSPs may contribute to tissue destruction, whereas the presence of common epitopes in host proteins and microbial HSPs may lead to autoimmune responses. Here, we review the current knowledge regarding HSPs produced by oral micro-organisms and discuss their possible contributions to the pathogenesis of oral infections.
authors.affiliation: Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Buccale, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Cité universitaire, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, G1K 7P4.
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Goulhen
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grenier
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mayrand
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D037521:Virulence Factors
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D037521:Virulence Factors