The immune response of oral epithelial cells induced by single-species and complex naturally formed biofilms

  1. J. Eberhard1,
  2. R. Pietschmann1,
  3. W. Falk2,
  4. S. Jepsen3,
  5. H. Dommisch3,4

Article first published online: 15 JUN 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-302X.2009.00518.x

Issue

Oral Microbiology and Immunology

Oral Microbiology and Immunology

Volume 24, Issue 4, pages 325–330, August 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Eberhard, J., Pietschmann, R., Falk, W., Jepsen, S. and Dommisch, H. (2009), The immune response of oral epithelial cells induced by single-species and complex naturally formed biofilms. Oral Microbiology and Immunology, 24: 325–330. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-302X.2009.00518.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Preventive Dentistry, Periodontology and Cariology, University Hospital Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany

  2. 2

    Microbiology Laboratories, Eckernförde, Germany

  3. 3

    Department of Periodontology and Operative Dentistry, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany

  4. 4

    Department of Oral Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

*Jörg Eberhard, Department of Preventive Dentistry, Periodontology and Cariology, University Hospital Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany Tel.: + 49 (551) 532 39 22884; fax: + 49 (551) 532 22037; e-mail: joerg.eberhard@gmx.net

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 15 JUN 2009
  2. Article first published online: 15 JUN 2009
  3. Accepted for publication February 9, 2009

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Keywords:

  • biofilm;
  • cytokine;
  • defensin;
  • immune response;
  • oral epithelium

Introduction:  In the oral cavity, the surfaces are constantly exposed to a complex variety of microorganisms organized in biofilms. As part of a sophisticated local immune response, gingival epithelial cells (GECs) express antimicrobial peptides, such as human β-defensin-2 (hBD-2), ribonuclease 7 (RNAase-7), and psoriasin (PSO), and pro-inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-8 (IL-8) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO). The aim of the present study was to test whether GECs show a differential immune response to single-species biofilms compared with multi-species biofilms.

Methods:  GECs were cultured from biopsies derived from three different healthy donors (n = 3). To obtain naturally formed biofilm (NFB), polymer disks were attached to prostheses and carried intraorally for 12, 24, 36, and 48 h. In addition, single-species biofilms (SSB; Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus mitis) were cultured on polymer disks in vitro (12, 24, 36, and 48 h). The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of hBD-2, RNAase-7, PSO, IL-8, 5-LO, and glycerylaldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was analysed using semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

Results:  In GECs, the hBD-2 mRNA expression was significantly upregulated in response to S. mitis-biofilm stimulation compared with S. mutans-biofilm stimulation (P < 0.0001). In contrast, the RNAase-7 mRNA expression was significantly higher in GECs when responding to both S. mutans biofilms and naturally formed biofilms compared with S. mitis biofilms (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.001, respectively). The IL-8 and 5-LO mRNA was significantly upregulated in response to S. mutans biofilms (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0002, respectively).

Conclusion:  This in vitro study found biofilm-dependent expression of antimicrobial peptides and inflammatory mediators in GECs.

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