Periodontitis is a microbial-induced chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gingival tissues supporting the tooth. With the development of high-throughput sequencing technologies, and their application to the oral microbiota, several newly appreciated organisms have become recognized as associated with periodontal lesions. Among these is the Gram-positive anaerobic rod Filifactor alocis which is present in high numbers in periodontal disease sites compared to healthy sites. However, association does not establish causality, and the challenge now is to determine the potential pathogenicity of F. alocis. Chronic inflammatory infectious diseases such as periodontitis can occur because the pathogens are able to evade or disable the innate immune system. Neutrophils are a major component of the innate host response and the outcome of the interaction between periodontal pathogens and neutrophils is a key determinant of oral health status. An understanding of both microbial and host factors is therefore essential to increase our knowledge of the periodontal disease process. The current proposal will test the hypothesis that Filifactor alocis modulates neutrophil functional responses as an immune evasion strategy to avoid killing and promote inflammation. We will test our hypothesis by the following specific aims:
Aim 1 : To characterize neutrophil respiratory burst response to F. alocis challenge. The goal of this aim will be to test the hypothesis that F. alocis stimulation causes dysfunction of select neutrophil responses, and thus compromises bacterial killing.
Aim 2 : To characterize the neutrophil oxygen-independent antimicrobial response to F. alocis challenge. The goal of this aim will be to test the hypothesis that F. alocis will modulate neutrophil degranulation and thus subvert neutrophil antimicrobial mechanisms.
Aim 3 : To determine the effect of F. alocis on neutrophil recruitment and activation in an animal model. The goal of this aim will be to test the hypothesis that F. alocis infection will stimulate neutrophil recruitment, activation, and matrix metalloproteinases release to promote inflammation in vivo. The current project is a collaborative effort from a new/early stage investigator with expertise in neutrophil biology and inflammation (Dr. Uriarte) and an expert in the field of oral pathogens and host cell responses (Dr. Lamont). The proposed collaborative efforts offer an innovative and strong framework to study the interaction between F. alocis and neutrophils. Furthermore, the data generated from this application are a necessary component of the information that will be required to allow the development of novel therapeutic strategies for controlling periodontal disease.

Public Health Relevance

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory condition induced by oral pathogenic bacteria that affects over half of the adult population in the United States. Oral health status is maintained by the presence of white blood cells which are involved in killing the oral bacteria that cause periodontal disease. In the current study we propose to define the interaction between white blood cells and a newly appreciated bacterium which has been proposed as a diagnostic indicator of periodontal disease; with the intention of filling a significant gap in the understanding of which factors contribute to periodontal disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DE024509-04
Application #
9233072
Study Section
Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Sciences Study Section (ODCS)
Program Officer
Lunsford, Dwayne
Project Start
2014-07-01
Project End
2019-03-30
Budget Start
2017-04-01
Budget End
2018-03-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Louisville
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
057588857
City
Louisville
State
KY
Country
United States
Zip Code
40292
Edmisson, Jacob S; Tian, Shifu; Armstrong, Cortney L et al. (2018) Filifactor alocis modulates human neutrophil antimicrobial functional responses. Cell Microbiol 20:e12829
Armstrong, Cortney L; Klaes, Christopher K; Vashishta, Aruna et al. (2018) Filifactor alocis manipulates human neutrophils affecting their ability to release neutrophil extracellular traps induced by PMA. Innate Immun 24:210-220
Miralda, Irina; Uriarte, Silvia M; McLeish, Kenneth R (2017) Multiple Phenotypic Changes Define Neutrophil Priming. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 7:217
Uriarte, Silvia M; Edmisson, Jacob S; Jimenez-Flores, Emeri (2016) Human neutrophils and oral microbiota: a constant tug-of-war between a harmonious and a discordant coexistence. Immunol Rev 273:282-98
Gu, Zhen; Lamont, Gwyneth J; Lamont, Richard J et al. (2016) Resolvin D1, resolvin D2 and maresin 1 activate the GSK3? anti-inflammatory axis in TLR4-engaged human monocytes. Innate Immun 22:186-95
Armstrong, Cortney L; Miralda, Irina; Neff, Adam C et al. (2016) Filifactor alocis Promotes Neutrophil Degranulation and Chemotactic Activity. Infect Immun 84:3423-3433