Activity of anti-Porphyromonas gingivalis egg yolk antibody against gingipains in vitro.
BACKGROUND
We investigated the effect of anti-Porphyromonas gingivalis egg yolk antibody against gingipains [immunoglobulin Y (IgY)-GP] on gingipain activity in vitro.


METHODS
IgY-GP was isolated from the yolks of White Leghorn hens immunized with purified gingipains. Control antibody (IgY) was isolated from the yolks of non-immunized hens. Gingipain activity was assessed according to the rate of enzymatic substrate hydrolysis. Human epithelial cells were cultured with or without gingipains and with gingipains pretreated with either IgY-GP or IgY.


RESULTS
Hydrolytic activity decreased in the presence of IgY-GP. Cells incubated with gingipains showed a dose-dependent loss of adhesion activity. Pretreatment of gingipains with IgY-GP was associated with strong inhibition of cell detachment, whereas pretreatment with IgY was not.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that IgY-GP may be an effective immunotherapeutic agent in the treatment of periodontitis.
Yokoyama
K
K
Nihon University Graduate School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan.
Sugano
N
N
Rahman
A K M S
AK
Oshikawa
M
M
Ito
K
K
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002645:Chickens; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000276:immunology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000080867:Gingipain Cysteine Endopeptidases; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007114:Immunization; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology*; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000276:immunology*