Levels of specific immunoglobulin G to the forsythia detaching factor of Tannerella forsythia in gingival crevicular fluid are related to the periodontal status

Abstract

Forsythia detaching factor (FDF) is a putative virulence factor of Tannerella forsythia that induces detachment of adherent cells and interleukin-8 production in human fibroblasts. The objective of the present study was to clarify the relationship between anti-FDF IgG levels in gingival crevicular fluid and the clinical status in patients with periodontitis and in healthy subjects. Gingival crevicular fluid and subgingival plaque samples were obtained from both the diseased and healthy sites of 37 patients with periodontitis and from 30 healthy subjects. Anti-FDF IgG levels were evaluated, and both the fdf gene and T. forsythia 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) were detected using the PCR. Anti-FDF IgG levels (of both diseased and healthy sites) of patients with periodontitis were significantly higher than those of healthy subjects. Among the patients with periodontitis, anti-FDF IgG levels of healthy sites were significantly higher than those of diseased sites and the levels showed negative correlations with probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level. Among the patients with periodontitis, T. forsythia 16S rRNA was detected in 18 of 37 diseased sites and in 5 of 29 healthy sites, and the fdf gene was detected in 19 of 37 diseased sites and in 7 of 29 healthy sites. By contrast, no healthy subjects were positive for T. forsythia 16S rRNA or the fdf gene. These data suggest that anti-FDF IgG levels in gingival crevicular fluid are related to the periodontal status.