Effect of adoptive transfer of antigen-specific B cells on periodontal bone resorption.
OBJECTIVE
Host immune responses to periodontal pathogens have been considered to contribute to the alveolar bone destruction in periodontitis. However, the role of B lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of periodontal bone loss is not clear.


METHODS
We examined the effect of adoptive transfer of antigen-specific B cells from rat spleens on experimental periodontal bone resorption. Donor rats were immunized intraperitoneally (i.p.) with formalin-killed Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. Antigen-specific B cells were prepared from splenocytes by first binding CD43(+) cells to Petri dishes coated with anti-CD43 antibody to remove T cells, and non-binding cells were passed through a nylon wool column to deplete accessory cells. The retained cells were then collected and bound to A. actinomycetemcomitans-coated Petri dishes for enrichment of A. actinomycetemcomitans-binding B cells (AAB). A. actinomycetemcomitans non-binding B cells (ANB) and B cells from non-immunized donor rats (NIB) were also collected from these procedures. Each type of B cell was injected into a group of recipient rats that were then orally infected with live A. actinomycetemcomitans.


RESULTS
At termination, the antibody levels to A. actinomycetemcomitans in serum and gingival wash fluids were significantly higher in the recipients transferred with AAB when compared to the recipients transferred with ANB or NIB. A markedly elevated number of antibody-forming cells were observed in the spleens of the recipients transferred with AAB, and these recipient rats also exhibited significantly increased bone resorption when compared to the other groups.


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that B cells can contribute to periodontal bone resorption and that antigen-triggering of B cells is required for the bone resorption.
Harada
Y
Y
Department of Immunology, The Forsyth Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Han
X
X
Yamashita
K
K
Kawai
T
T
Eastcott
J W
JW
Smith
D J
DJ
Taubman
M A
MA
D000189:Actinobacillus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D019264:Adoptive Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000276:immunology; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000637:transplantation*; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G