Fimbriae from Porphyromonas gingivalis Induce Chemiluminescence Response of Macrophages in a Different Manner to Its Lipopolysaccharide

Fimbriae from Porphyromonas gingivalis were found to induce an early chemiluminescence response of mouse peritoneal macrophages. A significant dose-dependent increase in the response was observed. The response induced by the fimbriae was different from that induced by the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . Viable P. gingivalis whole cells stimulated macrophages and the chemiluminescence response cojoined the two responses induced by fimbriae and LPS. These observations suggest that P. gingivalis fimbriae may be involved in the pathogenesis of adult periodontal disease via the triggering of reactive oxygen intermediates by macrophages in the disease in a different manner to its LPS.