INTERACTIONS OF PORPHYROMONAS-GINGIVALIS WITH EPITHELIAL-CELLS

The invasion of gingival epithelial cells by certain pathogenic period ontal bacteria may account for their presence within diseased gingival tissue. To dissect the initial steps of a potential invasion pathway for the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis, laboratory and clinical bacterial isolates were tested for their interactions with a human oral epithelial cell line (KB). Several P. gingivalis strains im mobilized on filters could bind oral epithelial cells. Quantitative ad herence assays supported these results. The invasion of epithelial cel ls by P. gingivalis 33277 was measured by assay and confirmed by trans mission electron microscopy. These preliminary results demonstrate tha t certain P. gingivalis strains are capable of internalization by huma n oral epithelial cells in vitro.