Anti-leukotoxin antibodies against Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in serum and saliva samples from patients with localized juvenile periodontitis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1517-74912001000100002Keywords:
Immunoglobulins, Localized juvenile periodontitis, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Antigen-antibody complexAbstract
The leukotoxin produced by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is considered the major virulence factor with potential to cause damage to the host defenses. The present work analyzed the serumal and salivary levels of antibodies against the leukotoxin produced by A. Actinomycetemcomitans, in patients with Localized Juvenile Periodontitis (LJP) and in healthy controls. Additionally, analysis of the immune complex (IC) was carried out in saliva samples . The classic ELISA method, with leukotoxin obtained through Sephadex G-200 gel filtration, and the capture ELISA method, using rabbit anti-A. Actinomycetemcomitans (leucotoxic, FDC Y4, IgG) adsorbed with a non-leukotoxic strain of A. actinomycetemcomitans, were used. The results obtained demonstrated significantly higher serumal levels of IgG in patients with LJP, when they were compared with the healthy controls, both for the classic and capture ELISA methods (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed between the salivary levels of IgG, SIgA and IC in the examined individuals. These results suggest that even though A. actinomycetemcomitans presents virulence factors that affect the immune response, there is immune response to leukotoxin in LJP patients. This increase of IgG in the blood stream might contribute to host defense, limiting the lesion to the periodontal regions already colonized by A. actinomycetemcomitans.Downloads
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Published
2001-03-01
Issue
Section
Microbiologia
How to Cite
Anti-leukotoxin antibodies against Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in serum and saliva samples from patients with localized juvenile periodontitis. (2001). Pesquisa Odontológica Brasileira, 15(1), 05-11. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1517-74912001000100002