The Role of Salivary IgA Antibody against Periodontopathic Bacteria

• Published in: Nihon Shishubyo Gakkai Kaishi (Journal of the Japanese Society of Periodontology) Vol. 38; no. 3; pp. 330 - 338
• Main Authors: Ishikawa, Isao, Aramaki, Maya, Nagasawa, Toshiyuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: JAPANESE SOCIETY OF PERIODONTOLOGY 1996
• Subjects: IgA; IgG; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Saliva; Serum
• ISSN: 0385-0110; 1880-408X
• DOI: 10.2329/perio.38.330

There are few reports describing the role of the secretory immune system against periodontopathic bacteria in periodontal disease. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of salivary IgA antibody against periodontopathic bacteria. Peripheral blood and unstimulated saliva were collected from the 25 adult periodontitis patients and 10 healthy volunteers. Total IgA antibody, total secretory IgA antibody, and IgA antibody specific for periodontopathic bacteria were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Salivary total IgA antibody levels in patients were significantly higher than those in healthy subjects (p<0.01). There was no difference between healthy subjects and periodontitis patients regarding the salivary IgA antibodies specific for P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum. Patients were divided into two groups according to the amount of IgA antibody specific for periodontopathic bacteria. If the amount of IgA antibody against a bacterial species exceeded the mean plus 2 SD of the healthy subjects, the patients were classified as H-group, while the other patients were classified as L-group. As to the IgA antibody specific for P. gingivalis, H group patients has significantly low numbers of teeth showing. ≥3mm, ≥5mm, and. ≥7 mm pocket depths (p<0.05). The numbers of teeth showing. ≥25%, ≥50%, ≥75% bone loss were lower in H group than L group, but the difference was not statistically significant. These results suggest that salivary IgA antibody specific for periodontopathic bacteria is not always produced in adult periodontitis patients, and that salivary IgA antibody specific for P. gingivalis might have a protective role in periodontitis.