Studies on human dental plaque

Abstract

Abstract. From collected supragingival plaque, extracts were prepared for immunochemical analyses. Extracted sediments were examined by fluorescein‐labeled antibodies for the presence of immunoglobulins. Precipitation with monospecific and polyvalent antisera revealed IgA, IgG, secretory component, C3, α2macroglobulin, lactoferrin, and albumin in the extracts. Gel filtration of pooled plaque extract yielded two fractions that contained the aforementioned proteins and a prominent, dialyzable third fraction that was immunochemically nonreactive. IgA, IgG, secretory component, and light chains were shown, by immunofluorescence, to be present in washed, pooled plaque sediment. Release of these immunoglobulins by urea treatment indicated their probable participation in immune complexes.

Differential Recognition of Oral Indigenous Bacteria by Salivary Immunoglobulins A and G

“…Mean RI's were between 23-38 for strains 4, 9, 11, and 13, whereas RI's for strains 10 and 12 did not exceed 6. These last RI's and anti-staphylococcal IgA RI's (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19) were below the threshold calculated for positive RI's (preceding section).…”

“…Human parotid and whole saliva were reported as containing detectable titers of antibody reactive with some indigenous streptococci (3, 7). Brandtzaeg et al (2) have shown that in humans, many salivary bacteria are coated in vivo with IgA and it has been reported more recently that the dental plaque contain significant quantities of IgA and IgG (14,15,26). It is obvious, however, that an assessment of the natural salivary antibacterial repertoire should bring preliminary indications of beneficial host-bacteria interactions in the oral cavity.…”

Sulfated glycoproteins in the acquired pellicle and in plaque from Macaca fascicularis demonstrated with labeled sulfate

“…The above findings indicate that acquired pellicle and plaque contain high molecular weight sulfated components which possess the characteristics of sulfated glycoproteins as defined within the limited material available. The other electrophoretic bands in plaque are not defined, although one slower migrating component that did not stain strongly may be albumin (HOLT 1975 Acidic glycoproteins which adsorb to hydroxyapatite in vivo adsorb to calcium sites on the apatite surface (BERNARDI, GIRO & GAILLARD 1972, ROLLA & MEL-SEN 1975 and calcium-binding proteins in saliva have been shown tO' be selectively adsorbed to hydroxyapatite (BELCOURT 1975, MANDEL & GoNcooL 1975. The presence of a sulfated glycoprotein in the 2-h pellicle indicates that the mechanism of pellicle formation is in fact a selective adsorption of acidic proteins.…”

Immunoglobulins in human dental plaque

“…Serum antibodies presumably gain access to plaque via gingival fluid, and passage of intact IgG from serum to gingival fluid has recently been demonstrated (Challacombe, Russell & Hawkes 1978). Numerous studies have indeed described immunoglobulins in gingival fluid (for reviews see Cimasoni 1974, Seymour 1974, while others (Taubman 1974, Holt & Mestecky 1975 have shown that immunoglobulins can be extracted from samples of dental plaque. However, study of the interaction of antibodies in situ in plaque has hitherto been neglected, although the results of Rylander, Lindhe and Ahlstedt (1976) in beagle dogs seem to indicate that systemic immunization with plaque antigens may lead to diminished plaque accumulation.…”