Localization of Porphyromonas gingivalis-carrying Fimbriae in situ in Human Periodontal Pockets

Fimbriae, which are involved in adherence, constitute an important pathogenic factor of Porphyromonas gingivalis. In vivo, however, the distribution of P. gingivalis-carrying fimbriae is unknown. The localization of P. gingivalis-carrying fimbriae was examined in situ. From 19 patients with severe p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of dental research 2004-12, Vol.83 (12), p.941-945
Main Authors: Noiri, Y., Li, L., Yoshimura, F., Ebisu, S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Bacterial Adhesion
Dental Cementum - microbiology
Dental Deposits - microbiology
Dental Plaque - microbiology
Dentistry
Female
Fimbriae, Bacterial - physiology
Fimbriae, Bacterial - ultrastructure
Humans
Immune Sera
Immunohistochemistry
Male
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Microscopy, Immunoelectron
Middle Aged
Periodontal Pocket - microbiology
Periodontitis - microbiology
Porphyromonas gingivalis - pathogenicity
Porphyromonas gingivalis - ultrastructure
Tooth Root - microbiology
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Summary:Fimbriae, which are involved in adherence, constitute an important pathogenic factor of Porphyromonas gingivalis. In vivo, however, the distribution of P. gingivalis-carrying fimbriae is unknown. The localization of P. gingivalis-carrying fimbriae was examined in situ. From 19 patients with severe periodontitis and P. gingivalis, we obtained 20 teeth with periodontal tissue attached, with and without immunolocalized fimbriae. Eleven teeth were subjected to light microscopy, 9 to electron microscopy. In 6 of the 11 samples examined, we detected positive reactions with an anti-P. gingivalis-fimbriae serum, located in the cementum-attached plaque area in the deep pocket zones. In the so-called ‘plaque-free zones’, P. gingivalis-carrying fimbriae were immunocytochemically observed to reside in contact with the dental cuticle in 6 of the 9 samples examined. These findings suggest that P. gingivalis-carrying fimbriae are strongly related to adherence to the root surface at the bottoms of human periodontal pockets.
ISSN:0022-0345
1544-0591
DOI:10.1177/154405910408301210