The Role of Porphyromonas gingivalis Virulence Factors in Periodontitis Immunopathogenesis

Abstract

Porphyromonas gingivalis is an anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria, often associated with the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammation characterized by damage to the supporting tissues of the tooth. Porphyromonas gingivalis locally can invade periodontal tissue and avoid host defence mechanisms. Porphyromonas gingivalis have virulence factors that can interfere with host immune response and cause inflammation at host tissue. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the role of Porphyromonas gingivalis virulence factors such as capsules, fimbriae, lipopolysaccharides, and gingipain in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. The data sources were taken from PubMed and Google Scholar within 10 years. The role of Porphyromonas gingivalis capsule is to suppress the host's immune response to bacteria by reducing phagocytosis so the bacteria can survive. The roles of Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbriaeare to facilitate adhesion and invasion of bacteria to host cells so the damage will occur in the periodontal tissue. One of the roles of Porphyromoas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide is to disrupt the host immune system by disrupting the distribution of leukocytes around bacterial colonization so the bacteria can survive. The role of the Porphyromonas gingivalis gingipain is to suppress inflammatory cytokines thereby reducing the host's response by manipulating the complement system and disrupting the response of T cells. Porphyromonas gingivalis expresses several virulence factors involved in the colonization of subgingival plaque, modulates the immune response of host cells, and damages the host tissue directly so it can cause periodontitis.