Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, a Gram-negative bacterium with seven serotypes (a-g) according to the structure of its LPS, has been defined as one of the most important pathogens in the development of a dysbiotic periodontal biofilm and the onset of periodontitis (an inflammatory chronic disease of the tissues around the teeth), where the serotype b is characterized as the most virulent compared with the other serotypes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of the macrophage polarization markers M0, M1, and M2 against A. actinomycetemcomitans.
Methods: THP-1 cells were infected with A. actinomycetemcomitans serotypes a, b, and c. The expression of CD11b, CD4, CD14, and CD68 for M0; IL-6, HLA/DRA, and CXCL10 for M21, and IL-10, CD163, fibronectin-1 or FN1, and CCL17 was evaluated by qPCR at 2 and 24 h after infection.
Results: An increase in the expression of these molecules was induced by all serotypes at both times of infection, showing higher levels of expression to the M1 panel at 2 and 24 h compared to other markers.
Conclusions: A. actinomycetemcomitans has a role in the macrophage polarization to the M1 phenotype in a non-serotype-dependent manner.
Keywords: inflammation; innate immunity; intracellular bacteria; periodontal cells; periodontal pathogens; periodontitis.