Study: Protein Might Play Key Role in Gum Disease

According to a recent news release, scientists at the ADA Forsyth Institute, along with a colleague from Northwestern University, have discovered that the protein transglutaminase 2 is a key component in the process of gum disease. TG2 is widely distributed inside and outside of human cells. The scientists found that blocking some associations of TG2 prevents the bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis from adhering to cells.

The findings in this study indicate that TG2 is a key mediator in PG infection. In this research, the scientific team examined the critical role that TG2 plays in enabling PG to adhere to cells. Using confocal microscopes, clusters of TG2 were found where the bacterium was binding to cells. When the team silenced the expression of TG2, PG was diminished.

The study was led by Dr. Heike Boisvert, an assistant staff member in the microbiology department at Forsyth, and was done in collaboration with Dr. Laszlo Lorand from Northwestern University Feinberg Medical School and Dr. Margaret Duncan, a senior staff member at Forsyth.

“Once established, Porphyromonas gingivalis is very hard to get rid of,” said Boisvert. “The bacterium changes conditions in the surrounding environment to ensure perfect growth; unfortunately, those changes, if untreated, can result in a loss of supportive tissue for our teeth. Also, as has been recently reported, manipulations of host proteins by PG may be involved in the development of systemic diseases such as atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. The more we know about the relationship of PG with us, the host, the better we can work on how to prevent disease and disease progression.”

In the next phase of research, Boisvert will be examining TG2-knockout mice to test their susceptibility to PG infection and periodontal disease.