Role of Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte-Derived Serine Proteinases in Defense against Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans

SF de Haar, PS Hiemstra… - Infection and …, 2006 - Am Soc Microbiol
SF de Haar, PS Hiemstra, MTJM van Steenbergen, V Everts, W Beertsen
Infection and immunity, 2006Am Soc Microbiol
Periodontitis is a chronic destructive infection of the tooth-supportive tissues, which is
caused by pathogenic bacteria such as Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. A severe
form of periodontitis is found in Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome (PLS), an inheritable disease
caused by loss-of-function mutations in the cathepsin C gene. Recently, we demonstrated
that these patients lack the activity of the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)-derived
serine proteinases elastase, cathepsin G, and proteinase 3. In the present study we …
Abstract
Periodontitis is a chronic destructive infection of the tooth-supportive tissues, which is caused by pathogenic bacteria such as Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. A severe form of periodontitis is found in Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome (PLS), an inheritable disease caused by loss-of-function mutations in the cathepsin C gene. Recently, we demonstrated that these patients lack the activity of the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)-derived serine proteinases elastase, cathepsin G, and proteinase 3. In the present study we identified possible pathways along which serine proteinases may be involved in the defense against A. actinomycetemcomitans. Serine proteinases are capable to convert the PMN-derived hCAP-18 into LL-37, an antimicrobial peptide with activity against A. actinomycetemcomitans. We found that the PMNs of PLS patients released lower levels of LL-37. Furthermore, because of their deficiency in serine proteases, the PMNs of PLS patients were incapable of neutralizing the leukotoxin produced by this pathogen, which resulted in increased cell damage. Finally, the capacity of PMNs from PLS patients to kill A. actinomycetemcomitans in an anaerobic environment, such as that found in the periodontal pocket, seemed to be reduced. Our report demonstrates a mechanism that suggests a direct link between an inheritable defect in PMN functioning and difficulty in coping with a periodontitis-associated pathogen.
American Society for Microbiology