Porphyromonas gingivalis Facilitates the Development and Progression of Destructive Arthritis through Its Unique Bacterial Peptidylarginine Deiminase (PAD)
Figure 5
Inoculation with P. gingivalis strain W83 leads to citrullination in vivo and, in turn, production of antibody against citrullinated proteins (aCCP).
(A) Subcutaneously implanted titanium chambers were inoculated with: 1) 1×108 P. gingivalis, 2) PBS, 3) 5×107 and 4) 1×107 P. gingivalis. After 24 h, 20 µl of chamber fluid was collected and assayed for citrullinated proteins by immunoblotting with anti-modified citrulline antibody. B) Level of citrullinated proteins in chamber fluid 7 days post-inoculation. Pooled chamber fluid from 2 independent experiments was used. Horizontal bar and error bars represent the mean and SEM, respectively. C) Serum titers of aCCP IgG and D) IgG antibodies against CEP-1 were determined using an ELISA 45 days post-immunization with CII. Error bars represent the SEM. Statistical evaluation was carried out using one way ANOVA. * denotes p<0.05.