Effect of Various Agents on Oral Bacterial Phagocytosis in THP-1 Cells

Phagocytosis is a fundamental process in which phagocytes capture and ingest foreign particles including pathogenic bacteria. Several oral pathogens have anti-phagocytic strategies, which allow them to escape from and survive in phagocytes. Impaired bacteria phagocytosis increases inflammation and contributes to inflammatory diseases. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influences of various agents on oral pathogenic phagocytosis. To determine phagocytosis, Streptococcus mutans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis were stained with 5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE), and was measured using flowcytometery and confocal microscopy. The influencing factors on phagocytosis were evaluated through the pretreatment of ROS inhibitor (N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC)), lysozyme, potassium chloride (KCI) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in THP-1 cells. Expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The phagocytosis of various bacteria increased in a MOI-dependent manner. Among the tested bacteria, phagocytosis of P. gingivalis showed the highest fluorescent intensity at same infection time. Among the tested inhibitors, the NAC treatment significantly inhibited phagocytosis in all tested bacteria. In addition, NAC treatment indicated a similar pattern under the confocal microscopy. Moreover, NAC treatment significantly increased the bacteria-induced secretion of IL-1β among the tested inhibitors. Taken together, we conclude that the phagocytosis occurs differently depending on each bacterium. Down-regulation by ROS production inhibited phagocytosis and lead increased of oral pathogens-associated inflammation.

The effects of lemon essential oil,limonene and tea polyphenols on cell surface hydrophobicity and adher-ence of Streptococcus mutans / 实用口腔医学杂志

Objective:To explore the effects of the natural plant ingredients lemon essential oil(LEO),limonene(LIM)and tea poly-phenols(TP)on the cell surface hydrophobicity and adherence of Streptococcus mutans(S.mutans).Methods:S.mutans were treated by sub-minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC)levels of LEO,LIMand TP respectively.Adsorption to hexadecane was used to measure the hydrophobic interaction of S.mutans.A classical 96-cell microtitre plate production assay using crystal violet staining was employed to visualize the adherence of S.mutans to hard tissue surface.Results:LEO,LIMand TP at sub-MIC levels could inhibit the cell sur-face hydrophobicity and adherence of S.mutans in a dose-dependent manner(P <0.05).At 1 /2 MIC and 1 /20 MIC,the inhibitary effect of LEO was stronger than that of LIMand TP(P <0.05).Conclusion:LEO may possess anticariogenic potential.

In vitro biosynthesis of autoinducer 2 of Streptococcus mutans UA1 59 and observation of the influence factors / 实用口腔医学杂志

Objective:To synthesize autoinducer-2 by the clone and prokaryotic expression of Streptococcus mutans(S.mutans)UAl59 luxS gene and to observe the influence factors.Methods:The expression vector pET21 a(+)-luxS of S.mutans UAl59 was transformed into Escheriehia coli BL2l(DE3).The S-ribosylhomocysteinase(Luxs)expression was induced by IPTG.The His tag fusion protein was isolated by Ni-chelating column and identified by Western blotting.Finally the protein was renatured by dialysis method.S-ribosylhomo-cysteine (SAH)was catalyzed by s-adenosylhomocysteine nucleosidas (Pfs)and LuxS,and then AI-2 was syntheszed.The AI-2 activi-ty was examined by luminescence of Vibrio harveyi BB1 70 when the concentration of LuxS protein or pH(4 -1 2)or the concentration of sodium fluoride was changed in reaction mixes of AI-2 synthesis.Results:Compared with the control group,with the increase of LuxS protein concentration,the relative activity of in vitro synthesized AI-2 increased gradually(P <0.001 ).When pH was between 6 -1 0, the relative activity of AI-2 were the highest,beyond the range of pH,the relative activity of AI-2 decreased(P <0.001 ).When a final concentration of sodium fluoride was more than 0.3%,the luminescence values decreased(P <0.05).Conclusion:LuxS fusion protein can promote the production of AI-2.Optimum pH for AI-2 biosynthesis in vitro must be between 6-1 0.Biosynthesis of AI-2 is inhibited by sodium fluoride with final concentration of more than 0.3%.