Increased serum IgG antibodies reactive with lipoteichoic acids in subjects with gingivitis

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Abstract
The aim of the present study was to assess serum antibodies reactive with lipoteichoic acids (LTAs) in test panels with and without gingivitis. LTA‐rich preparations were obtained from Streptococcus mutans and from Staphylococcus aureus cells. Serum IgG antibodies to those LTAs, and to commercially available lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli strain 055:B5 were measured in enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The LPS was included as a negative control. Serum antibodies reactive with LTAs showed a significant (p<0.05) age‐dependent rise in young people (aged 4 to 24 years), and then leveled out. Ten days experimental gingivitis was induced by means of frequent sucrose rinses in 10 volunteers (all 19‐yr‐old). The mean serum antibody levels to the LTA‐rich extracts increased 3‐ to 4‐fold during the test period, whereas the mean antibody level to LPS remained unchanged. Ten periodontally healthy adult persons were matched for age (3‐yr intervals) and teeth present (± 3 teeth) with 10 adult subjects with chronic ginvititis, but no alveolar bone loss. The mean age was about 50 yr. The chronic gingivitis group showed statistically significant, i.e. 4‐ to 5‐fold higher antibody levels reactive with the LTAs. The corresponding difference in anti‐LPS levels was insignificant. Dental plaque thus triggers significant systemic antibody responses to LTAs.