Immunization of Macaca fascicularis against experimental periodontitis using a vaccine containing cysteine proteases purified from Porphyromonas gingivalis.
BACKGROUND
Periodontitis is a common infectious disease to which Porphyromonas gingivalis has been closely linked, in which the attachment tissues of the teeth and their alveolar bone housing are destroyed. We conducted a study to determine if immunization using a purified antigen could alter the onset and progression of the disease.


METHODS
Using the ligature-induced model of periodontitis in Macaca fascicularis, we immunized five animals with cysteine protease purified from P. gingivalis and used an additional five animals as controls. Alveolar bone loss was measured by digital subtraction radiography.


RESULTS
Immunization induced high titers of specific immunoglobuin G serum antibodies that were opsonic. Total bacterial load, levels of P. gingivalis in subgingival plaque and levels of prostaglandin E(2) in gingival crevicular fluid were significantly reduced. Onset and progression of alveolar bone loss was inhibited by approximately 50%. No manifestations of toxicity were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Immunization using a purified protein antigen from P. gingivalis inhibits alveolar bone destruction in a ligature-induced periodontitis model in M. fascicularis.
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Department of Periodontics, and Regional Clinical Dental Research Center, School of Dentistry, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA. roypage@u.washington.edu
Lantz
M S
MS
Darveau
R
R
Jeffcoat
M
M
Mancl
L
L
Houston
L
L
Braham
P
P
Persson
G R
GR
D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000276:immunology*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D049449:Luminescence; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008297:Male; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C099479:porphypain protein, Porphyromonas gingivalis; D015232:Dinoprostone