PORPHYROMONAS-GINGIVALIS SURFACE COMPONENTS INDUCE INTERLEUKIN-1 RELEASE AND TYROSINE PHOSPHORYLATION IN MACROPHAGES

The aim of the present study was to characterize the responses of macr ophages to surface antigens of Porphyromonas gingivalis. Native fimbri ae, full-length recombinant fimbrillin, and a lectin-like 12-kDa antig en all stimulated BALB/c peritoneal macrophages to secrete interleukin (IL)-1 beta. The antigens induced similar patterns of tyrosine phosph orylation; proteins in approximately 35-46 kDa range of undetermined i dentities were phosphorylated in the macrophages. The abilities of the surface antigens to induce IL-1 beta were markedly attenuated by tyro sine kinase inhibitors. This inhibition correlated with inhibition of the induced phosphorylation of specific macrophage proteins at tyrosin e, The data suggest that tyrosine kinase(s) plays an important role in the regulatory intracellular signaling mechanisms by which P. gingiva lis surface antigens can mediate certain responses in macrophages.