title: Differential expression of CC chemokines (CCLs) and receptors (CCRs) by human T lymphocytes in response to different Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans serotypes.
abstract: In Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, different serotypes have been described based on LPS antigenicity. Recently, our research group has reported a differential immunogenicity when T lymphocytes were stimulated with these different serotypes. In particular, it was demonstrated that the serotype b of A. actinomycetemcomitans has a stronger capacity to trigger Th1- and Th17-type cytokine production.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to quantify the expression of different CC chemokines (CCLs) and receptors (CCRs) in T lymphocytes stimulated with the differentA. actinomycetemcomitans serotypes. In addition, the expression of the transcription factors T-bet, GATA-3, RORC2, and Foxp3, master-switch genes implied in the Th1, Th2, Th17, and T-regulatory differentiation, respectively, was analysed in order to determine T-cell phenotype-specific patterns of CCL and CCR expression upon A. actinomycetemcomitans stimulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human naïve CD4+ T lymphocytes were obtained from healthy subjects and stimulated with autologous dendritic cells primed with the differentA. actinomycetemcomitans serotypes. The expression levels for the chemokines CCL1, CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, CCL11, CCL17, CCL20, CCL21, CCL25, and CCL28, as well as the chemokine receptors CCR1, CCR2, CCR3, CCR4, CCR5, CCR6, CCR7, CCR8, CCR9, and CCR10 were quantified by qPCR. Similarly, the expression levels for the transcription factors T-bet, GATA-3, RORC2, and Foxp3 were quantified and correlated with the CCL and CCR expression levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher expression levels of CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, CCL20, CCL21, CCL28, CCR1, CCR2, CCR5, CCR6, CCR7, and CCR9 were detected in T lymphocytes stimulated with the serotype b of A. actinomycetemcomitans compared with the other serotypes. In addition, these higher expression levels of CCLs and CCRs positively correlated with the increased levels of T-bet and RORC2 when T lymphocytes were stimulated with the serotype b.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A T-lymphocyte response biased towards a Th1- and Th17-pattern of CCL and CCR expression was detected under stimulation with the serotype b ofA. actinomycetemcomitans.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Periodontal, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Periodontal, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benítez
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Periodontal, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Periodontal, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pujol
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Odontología Conservadora, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carvajal
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Odontología Conservadora, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Díaz-Zúñiga
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Periodontal, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Rolando
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vernal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D054388:Receptors, CCR / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D065288:Serogroup; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D054388:Receptors, CCR