Abstract.
The aim of this study was to determine whether biofilms of Porphyromonas gingivalis could proteolytically degrade the cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, or IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra). Biofilms were grown on membrane filters on the surface of Wilkins-Chalgren blood agar. The biofilms were removed from the plates, and solutions containing 2.5 μg/ml of each cytokine were added. Following incubation for up to 4.0 h, supernatants from the biofilms were subjected to SDS-PAGE. The separated proteins were transferred by Western blotting to PVDF membranes and probed with peroxidase-conjugated antibodies recognizing both the intact cytokines and their degradation products. After 2 h, no intact IL-1β, IL-6, or IL-1ra were detectable. Cytokine proteolysis also occurred in the presence of horse serum. These results demonstrate that biofilm-grown P. gingivalis can degrade both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and so may be able to perturb cytokine networks in vivo by eliminating cytokines from the local environment.
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Received: 12 August 1997 / Accepted: 15 October 1997
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Fletcher, J., Nair, S., Poole, S. et al. Cytokine Degradation by Biofilms of Porphyromonas gingivalis . Curr Microbiol 36, 216–219 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002849900297
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002849900297