Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans infection enhances apoptosis in vivo through a caspase-3-dependent mechanism in experimental periodontitis

Jun Kang, Beatriz de Brito Bezerra, Sandra Pacios, Oelisoa Andriankaja, Yu Li, Vincent Tsiagbe, Helen Schreiner, Daniel H. Fine, Dana T. Graves

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

52 Scopus citations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that diabetes aggravates periodontal destruction induced by Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans infection. Thirty-eight diabetic and 33 normal rats were inoculated with A. actinomycetemcomitans and euthanized at baseline and at 4, 5, and 6 weeks after inoculation. Bone loss and the infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in gingival epithelium were measured in hematoxylin-eosin-stained sections. The induction of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and of apoptotic cells by a TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling) assay. After A. actinomycetemcomitans infection, the bone loss in diabetic rats was 1.7-fold and the PMN infiltration 1.6-fold higher than in normoglycemic rats (P<0.05). The induction of TNF-α was 1.5-fold higher and of apoptotic cells was up to 3-fold higher in diabetic versus normoglycemic rats (P<0.05). Treatment with a caspase-3 inhibitor significantly blocked noninflammatory cell apoptosis induced by A. actinomycetemcomitans infection in gingival epithelium and connective tissue (P<0.05). These results provide new insight into how diabetes aggravates A. actinomycetemcomitans-induced periodontal destruction in rats by significantly increasing the inflammatory response, leading to increased bone loss and enhancing apoptosis of gingival epithelial and connective tissue cells through a caspase-3-dependent mechanism. Antibiotics had a more pronounced effect on many of these parameters in diabetic than in normoglycemic rats, suggesting a deficiency in the capacity of diabetic animals to resist infection.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2247-2256
Number of pages10
JournalInfection and Immunity
Volume80
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans infection enhances apoptosis in vivo through a caspase-3-dependent mechanism in experimental periodontitis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this