Humoral immunity to stress proteins and periodontal disease

Background: There is evidence that microbial heat shock (stress) proteins ( Hsp) are immunodominant antigens of many microorganisms, Immunity to these proteins has been shown in non-oral infections to contribute to protection. This study was undertaken to assess the relationship(s) between immunity t o human and microbial heat shock proteins, periodontal disease status, and colonization by periodontal disease-associated microorganisms. Methods: Subgingival plaque and blood samples obtained from 198 patients du ring an earlier clinical study were examined for the presence of specific p eriodontal disease-associated microorganisms and antibodies to selected hum an and microbial heat shock proteins (Hsp70, Hsp90, DnaK, and GroEL). parti cle concentration immunofluorescence assay (PCFIA) was used to detect anti- Hsp antibodies and slot immunoblot assay (SIB) was used to detect subgingiv al plaque species. Regression models were used to examine the contribution of age, gender, gingival index, probing depth, attachment loss, calculus in dex, plaque index, and microbial colonization to the anti-Hsp antibody conc entrations. Results: Our studies demonstrated that, when evaluated by ANOVA, patients w ith higher anti-Hsp (Hsp90, DnaK, and GroEL) antibody concentrations tended to have significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) healthier periodontal tissues. This was most obvious when the relationship between mean probing depths and antibody concentrations were studied. For Hsp90 antibodies, 2 va riables (probing depth and P. gingivalis concentration) were found to have significant contributions (R = 0.293, P <0.0002), The equation derived from the regression model was y = 12558 - 2070*PD + 1842*PG. This confirmed the inverse relationship with probing depth and the positive relationship with colonization by P. gingivalis. Attempts to model the other stress protein antibodies were not successful. Conclusions: We believe that the present observations reflect the presence of protective anti-Hsp antibodies, rather than simply the presence of the m icroorganism in the gingival sulcus. The clinical significance of these obs ervations lies in the potential of identifying patients who are at risk for developing periodontal disease based on their inability to mount an immune response to specific Hsp or Hsp epitopes, as well as the development of va ccines based on Hsp epitopes.