Abstract |
Previously, we reported that dental caries-resistant subjects, who have significantly fewer Streptococcus mutans in whole saliva than caries-susceptible patients, have significantly higher levels of naturally occurring binding and neutralizing parotid salivary immunoglobulin A and serum immunoglobulin G antibodies to native S. mutans antigens than caries-susceptible patients. Recent animal studies indicated that the immunogenicity of swallowed S. mutans may be altered by either saliva-coating or stomach acid-denaturation. These results suggest a difference not only in the quantity of antibody to S. mutans, but also in the antigenic epitopes that caries-resistant subjects synthesize antibody to as compared with caries-susceptible patients. In the present report, sodium dodecyl sulfate- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis/immunoblotting studies indicate that caries-resistant subjects produce salivary immunoglobulin A and serum immunoglobulin G antibodies to several different (molecular weight: 94, 80, 40, and 35 kilodaltons) as well as several similar (molecular weight: 67, 55, and 30 kilodaltons) S. mutans epitopes as compared to caries-susceptible patients. This provides additional confirmation for our previous binding and functional antibody studies, indicating that caries-resistant subjects synthesize antibodies of different specificities than caries-susceptible patients. This study supports the concept of immune regulation of dental caries by naturally occurring antibodies induced by swallowing S. mutans antigens in saliva.
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Authors | R L Gregory, L C Hobbs, J C Kindle, T VanTo, H S Malmstrom |
Journal | Human antibodies and hybridomas
(Hum Antibodies Hybridomas)
Vol. 1
Issue 3
Pg. 132-6
( 1990)
ISSN: 0956-960X [Print] United States |
PMID | 2103356
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
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Chemical References |
- Antibodies, Bacterial
- Antigens, Bacterial
- Immunodominant Epitopes
- Immunoglobulin A, Secretory
- Immunoglobulin G
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Topics |
- Antibodies, Bacterial
(immunology)
- Antigens, Bacterial
(immunology)
- DMF Index
- Dental Caries
(blood, immunology)
- Disease Susceptibility
(immunology)
- Humans
- Immunodominant Epitopes
(immunology)
- Immunoglobulin A, Secretory
(immunology)
- Immunoglobulin G
(immunology)
- Saliva
(microbiology)
- Streptococcus mutans
(immunology)
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