Presence of Antibodies Signals Healthier Teeth and Gums
An antibody present in people with good oral health could become the first tool for dentists to assess a patient’s probable response to periodontal (gum) disease treatments. The antibody is to a protein called HtpG, made by the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis, an important pathogen in periodontal disease. The antibody also has potential as a vaccine candidate. Researchers discovered that the HtpG antibodies were present in much lower amounts in people with periodontal disease and in much higher concentrations in those with healthier teeth and gums. Typically, antibodies are elevated in people with disease, because they help fight the disease.
What has been seen in periodontal disease over the last 30-40 years is that patients with periodontal disease have higher levels of antibodies to the bacteria associated with periodontal disease, but these antibodies are not usually protective. The healthy patient makes high levels of the antibodies but to the right part of the organism. Not only were the HtpG antibodies present in higher amounts in people with healthier gums, those patients with the antibodies responded better to periodontal treatment.
The United States spends $8-$12 billion a year caring for people with serious periodontal disease. From a public health standpoint, it is important to identify those people who not only need therapy but will actually respond to a specific type of therapy. In the long run, this could lead to early interventional therapy to prevent periodontal disease from advancing, or even starting. The other part of the question is why people with periodontal disease do not make a good immune response to HtpG, and this could connect back to current thinking that oral health influences general health.
Tags: Bacteria, Biofilms, Biology, Health, Medicine, Microbiology, Science
