Abstract

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is frequently associated with severe periodontitis. Many periodontitis patients haveelevatedlevelsof serum IgG antibodiesto A. actinomycetemcomitans, but the role of these antibodies is unknown. This study evaluatedthe functional capacity of anti-A. actinomycetemcomitans IgG antibody to enhance phagocytosisof A. actinomycetemcomitans by polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Chemoluminescence assays were done using sera from 64 subjects, 61 of whom had severe periodontitis; results were compared with the subject's anti-A. actinomycetemcomitans IgG titer and avidity. There was a strong correlation between chemoluminescenceand antibody log titer (P < .00001) and a weakcorrelation between chemoluminescence and antibody avidity (P < .05). The results support the hypothesis that anti-A. actinomycetemcomitans IgG antibodies are important in promoting phagocytosisand killing of A. actinomycetemcomitans. Subjects who develophigh levelsof highly avid antibodies against A. actinomycetemcomitans may have greater resistance to continued or repeated infection by this pathogen.

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