Oral pathogenesis of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans

Abstract

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans) is a Gram-negative, facultative anaerobic bacillus that causes periodontal diseases such as localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP) and. consequently. bone resorption. The potential virulence factors of this organism are powerful leukotoxin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), cell surface-associated materials, enzymes, and less well-defined virulence factors that will modulate the activity of the host defenses. This organism can induce bone resorption by various virulence factors in periodontal disease. In this review article, we reviewed the pathogenic roles of A. actinomycetemcomitans in periodontal disease and the mechanism which can induce bone resorption. Findings from several studies indicate that the interaction between virulence factors and the host immune system's response often progress bone resorption in periodontal disease. In this organism, GroEL, DnaK, HtpG, LTX, CDT, LPS, and cell surface-associated materials produce cytokines when exposed to the immune system. The produced cytokines are the main cause of tissue destruction and bone resorption in A. actinomycetemcomitans inflammation in periodontal disease.

Keywords: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans; Bone resorption; Immune system; Periodontitis; Virulence factor.