Hiroaki Kabashima

Humoral Immune Responses to S-Layer-Like Proteins of Bacteroides forsythus

ABSTRACT Bacteroides forsythus is one of the important periodontopathic bacteria, and this microorganism is known to have an S-layer outside the outer membrane. The S-layer-like antigens were recently isolated from B. forsythus, and they were found to be 270- and 230-kDa proteins in the envelope fraction. In this study, these proteins were confirmed to be specific to B. forsythus by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and they were clearly recognized by sera from patients with adult and early-onset periodontitis in Western immmunoblot analysis. We compared the immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses against the purified S-layer-like antigen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. IgG responses against this antigen were low in healthy control subjects, but they were significantly higher in subjects with adult and early-onset periodontitis. Together with the fact that the IgG responses against the crude extract of B. forsythus did not rise significantly in patients with periodontitis, S-layer-like proteins are considered to be specific antigens of B. forsythus and may play an important role in the progression of periodontitis.

Presence OF CXCR3-Positive Cells and IFN-γ–Producing Cells in Human Periapical Granulomas

In an attempt to understand further the balance between the types of helper T (Th) cells in human apical periodontitis, we examined the difference in the expression of the chemokine receptor and cytokine in samples obtained from human subjects by means of immunohistochemical methods. Chemokine receptor CXCR3-positive cells and IFN-γ–producing cells were found to be present in human periapical granulomas, whereas chemokine receptor CCR3-positive cells and IL-4–producing cells could not be detected. By contrast, no factor expression was observed in a clinically healthy periodontal ligament serving as a negative control. Our findings suggest that Th1 cells may play an important role in the pathological process of local inflammation such as apical periodontitis.

Presence of Interleukin-4-Producing Cells for Human Bone Regeneration after Application of Guided Tissue Regeneration Membranes

To study the process of bone regeneration we examined three samples of periapical regenerative tissue obtained from two patients under a guided tissue regeneration treatment in endodontic surgery by the immunohistochemical and enzyme histochemical methods. The regenerative tissue consisted of a large number of fibroblast-like cells and a small number of mononuclear cells. Fibroblast-like cells stained positively for alkaline phosphatase and osteopontin, whereas mononuclear cells stained positively for CD4. Interleukin-4-producing cells could be detected in adjacent sections. However, interferon-y-producing cells could not be detected. These findings suggest that interleukin-4-producing cells may be one of the elements associated with success in the human bone regeneration process in vivo.