Porphyromonas gingivalis HmuY stimulates expression of Bcl-2 and Fas by human CD3+ T cells

• Published in: BMC microbiology Vol. 13; no. 1; p. 206
• Main Authors: Carvalho-Filho, Paulo C, Trindade, Soraya C, Olczak, Teresa, Sampaio, Geraldo P, Oliveira-Neto, Milton G, Santos, Heidiane A, Pereira, Bianca F P, Moura-Costa, Lilia, Xavier, Márcia T, Meyer, Roberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 11.09.2013; BioMed Central
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis; Antigens; Apoptosis; B cells; Bacterial infections; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; CD3 Complex - analysis; Cell death; Chronic illnesses; Colleges & universities; fas Receptor - biosynthesis; fas Receptor - genetics; Female; Flow cytometry; Gene expression; Genetic aspects; Gingivitis; Gum diseases; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Lymphocytes; Male; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Periodontitis - microbiology; Physiological aspects; Porphyromonas gingivalis - isolation & purification; Porphyromonas gingivalis - physiology; Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - biosynthesis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - genetics; Risk factors; Science; T cells; T-Lymphocytes - chemistry; T-Lymphocytes - microbiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1471-2180; 1471-2180
• DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-13-206

Apoptosis is a highly controlled process of cell death that can be induced by periodontopathogens. The present study aimed to investigate the expression of Fas and Bcl-2 proteins by CD3+ T cells in vitro under stimulation by total Porphyromonas gingivalis antigens and purified recombinant P. gingivalis HmuY protein. CD3+ T cells derived from CP patients and stimulated with HmuY expressed higher levels of Bcl-2 compared to identical cells stimulated with P. gingivalis crude extract or cells derived from NP control subjects (p = 0.043). The authors hypothesize that P. gingivalis HmuY plays a role in the pathogenesis of chronic periodontitis, possibly by reducing or delaying apoptosis in T cells through a pathway involving the Bcl-2 protein.