Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Infection and Immunity logoLink to Infection and Immunity
. 1984 Jul;45(1):155–159. doi: 10.1128/iai.45.1.155-159.1984

Suppression of fibroblast proliferation by oral spirochetes.

H Boehringer, N S Taichman, B J Shenker
PMCID: PMC263293  PMID: 6735466

Abstract

Soluble sonic extracts of several strains of Treponema denticola and Treponema vincentii were examined for their abilities to alter proliferation of both murine and human fibroblasts. We found that sonic extracts of all tested strains of T. denticola caused a dose-dependent inhibition of murine and human fibroblast proliferation when assessed by both DNA synthesis ([3H]thymidine incorporation) and direct cell counts. T. vincentii had only a minimal inhibitory effect at comparable doses. No inhibition was observed when sonic extracts were added simultaneously with [3H]thymidine, indicating that suppression was not due to the presence of excessive amounts of cold thymidine in the extract, nonspecific effects on thymidine utilization by the cells (transport and incorporation), or degradation of label. RNA ([3H]uridine incorporation) and protein ([3H]leucine incorporation) synthesis were similarly altered after exposure to the T. denticola sonic extracts. There was no effect on cell viability as measured by trypan blue exclusion. Inhibition could be reversed by extensive washing of the cells within the first few hours of exposure to sonic extracts. Preliminary characterization and purification indicated that the inhibitory factor(s) is not endotoxin since it is heat labile, and elutes in a single, well-defined peak on a Sephadex G-150 chromatography column corresponding to a molecular weight of approximately 50,000. Since oral spirochetes have been implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontal disorders, it is possible that they contribute to the disease process by inhibition of fibroblast growth and therefore may, at least in part, account for the loss of collagen seen in diseased tissue.

Full text

PDF
155

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Aleo J. J., De Renzis F. A., Farber P. A., Varboncoeur A. P. The presence and biologic activity of cementum-bound endotoxin. J Periodontol. 1974 Sep;45(9):672–675. doi: 10.1902/jop.1974.45.9.672. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bradford M. M. A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding. Anal Biochem. 1976 May 7;72:248–254. doi: 10.1016/0003-2697(76)90527-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Engel D., Schroeder H. E., Page R. C. Morphological features and functional properties of human fibroblasts exposed to Actinomyces viscosus substances. Infect Immun. 1978 Jan;19(1):287–295. doi: 10.1128/iai.19.1.287-295.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Gaegauf-Zollinger R., Burckhardt J. J., Gmür R., Guggenheim B. Cell-mediated cytotoxicity against rat fibroblasts induced by Actinomyces viscosus. Infect Immun. 1982 Aug;37(2):710–719. doi: 10.1128/iai.37.2.710-719.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Higerd T. B., Vesole D. H., Goust J. M. Inhibitory effects of extracellular products from oral bacteria on human fibroblasts and stimulated lymphocytes. Infect Immun. 1978 Aug;21(2):567–574. doi: 10.1128/iai.21.2.567-574.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. LISTGARTEN M. A. ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS ON THE BACTERIAL FLORA OF ACUTE NECROTIZING ULCERATIVE GINGIVITIS. J Periodontol. 1965 Jul-Aug;36:328–339. doi: 10.1902/jop.1965.36.4.328. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Larjava H., Jalkanen M., Penttinen R., Paunio K. Enhanced synthesis of hyaluronic acid by human gingival fibroblasts exposed to human dental bacterial extract. J Periodontal Res. 1983 Jan;18(1):31–39. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0765.1983.tb00332.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Liljenberg B., Lindhe J. Juvenile periodontitis. Some microbiological, histopathological and clinical characteristics. J Clin Periodontol. 1980 Feb;7(1):48–61. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051x.1980.tb01948.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Listgarten M. A., Helldén L. Relative distribution of bacteria at clinically healthy and periodontally diseased sites in humans. J Clin Periodontol. 1978 May;5(2):115–132. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051x.1978.tb01913.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Listgarten M. A., Levin S. Positive correlation between the proportions of subgingival spirochetes and motile bacteria and susceptibility of human subjects to periodontal deterioration. J Clin Periodontol. 1981 Apr;8(2):122–138. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051x.1981.tb02352.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Listgarten M. A. Structure of the microbial flora associated with periodontal health and disease in man. A light and electron microscopic study. J Periodontol. 1976 Jan;47(1):1–18. doi: 10.1902/jop.1976.47.1.1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Saglie R., Newman M. G., Carranza F. A., Jr, Pattison G. L. Bacterial invasion of gingiva in advanced periodontitis in humans. J Periodontol. 1982 Apr;53(4):217–222. doi: 10.1902/jop.1982.53.4.217. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Shenker B. J., Kushner M. E., Tsai C. C. Inhibition of fibroblast proliferation by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. Infect Immun. 1982 Dec;38(3):986–992. doi: 10.1128/iai.38.3.986-992.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Shenker B. J., Listgarten M. A., Taichman N. S. Suppression of human lymphocyte responses by oral spirochetes: a monocyte-dependent phenomenon. J Immunol. 1984 Apr;132(4):2039–2045. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Smith G. L. Synergistic action of bacterial lipopolysaccharides on serum-stimulated DNA synthesis in mouse embryo fibroblasts. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1976 Oct;153(1):187–192. doi: 10.3181/00379727-153-39507. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Stevens R. H., Gatewood C., Hammond B. F. Cytotoxicity of the bacterium Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans extracts in human gingival fibroblasts. Arch Oral Biol. 1983;28(11):981–987. doi: 10.1016/0003-9969(83)90051-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Stevens R. H., Sela M. N., Shapira J., Hammond B. F. Detection of a fibroblast proliferation inhibitory factor from Capnocytophaga sputigena. Infect Immun. 1980 Jan;27(1):271–275. doi: 10.1128/iai.27.1.271-275.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Infection and Immunity are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES