Patients with certain antibodies less likely to develop periodontal disease

Ann Arbor, Mich.鈥擱esearchers at the University of Michigan have discovered that people with certain antibodies are much less likely to develop periodontal disease.

According to the paper, “Serum Antibodies to Porphyromonas Gingivalis Chaperone HtpG Predict Health in Periodontitis Susceptible Patients,” the antibody is to a protein called HtpG, of the bug Porphyromonas gingivalis, an important pathogen in periodontal disease.

The researchers found that the HtpG antibodies were present at lower levels in people with chronic and aggressive periodontal disease, and at higher levels in healthy subjects. Also, periodontal therapy was more successful in subjects with higher levels of HtpG antibodies before periodontal treatment, the study said.

“What has been seen in periodontal disease over the last 30 to 40 years is that patients with periodontal disease have higher levels of antibodies to the bacteria associated with periodontal disease, but what we know is that those antibodies aren’t usually protective,” said lead investigator Dennis Lopatin, Ph.D. “It’s like being vaccinated against the wrong strain of the flu. The healthy patient makes high levels of the antibodies but to the right part of the bug.”

Dr. Lopatin added that the discovery could eventually lead to early interventional therapy to prevent periodontal disease from starting or advancing. The researchers also plan to see how the mechanism applies to other types of chronic infections.

The project was funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and the complete paper, “Serum Antibodies to Porphyromonas Gingivalis Chaperone HtpG Predict Health in Periodontitis Susceptible Patients,” appears online at www.plosone.org/doi/pone.0001984 .聽