Unit 13 - Host Immune Response to Periodontal Pathogens Flashcards
True or False: Research findings indicate that although bacteria are essential for disease to occur, the presence of suspected periodontal pathogens alone is insufficient to cause tissue destruction seen in periodontitis.
True
What is the cause of nearly all the destruction seen in periodontal disease?
The body’s response to the bacteria present in plaque biofilm.
What is the way that the body responds to peridontal pathogens known as?
Host response
What is the prime purpose of the human immune system?
To defend the life of the indiviudal / host
Are the body’s defences employed to preserve the tooth or its supportial periodontal tissues?
No. The body’s defences are employed to save the life of the host.
What are all the mechanisms that enable biofilm bacteria to colonize and damage tissues called?
Virulence factor
Viruluence factors may be either structural characteristics of bacteria or
Substances produced by bacteria
What are the factors enhancing microbial challenge?
Presence of lipolysaccharides
Ability to invade tissues
Ability to produce enzymes
What is the first line of defence against microbial invasion?
Acute inflammation
What is the return to homeostasis called?
Catabasis
What are the components of the immune system?
Polymorphonuculear leukocyte (PMN)
Macrophage
Plasma cell / B-lymphocyte
T-lymphocyte
Immunoglobulins
How does inflammation cause periodontal disease?
Proinflammatory mediators, like, PMNs, are recuited during the acute phase
Attracted to the bacteria process by chemotaxis
Overproduction of these mediators cause destruction of connective tissue matrix and resorption of bone
Proresolving lipid mediators are produced to terminate PMN recruitment
When does the inflammatory response become chronic?
If the acute inflammatory responses are not effective in controlling the invading microorganisms.
What is a long-lived, out of control inflammatory response that continues for more than a few weeks?
Chronic inflammation
What type of condition is chronic inflammation?
Pathological condition
Can chronic inflammation cause more damage than the original problem?
Yes
Are the classic warning signgs seen in acute inflammation usually present in chronic inflammation?
No
True or False: in chronic inflammation, pain is often absent.
True
Why does chronic inflammation occur?
Because the body is unable to rid itself of the invading organism
The invading microorganisms are persistent and stimulate an
Exaggerated immune response
Can chronic iflammation become so intense that it does permanent damage to the body tissues?
Yes
What are biochemical mediators?
Biologically active compounds secreted by the immune cells that activate the body’s inflammatory response
What are the inflammatory mediators of importance in periodontal disease?
Cytokines
Prostaglandins
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)
What are cytokines?
Proteins released by host immune cells (cell protein)
What do cytokines do in regards to inflammation?
Signal to the immune system to send more phagocytes to the site of infection
Increase vascular permeability that increases movement of immune cells into the tissues
Can initiate tissue destruction and bone loss in chronic infections
What cells produce cytokines?
PMNs
Macrophages
B lympthocytes
Epithelial cells
Gingival fibroblasts
Osteoblasts
Cytokines important in periodontal diseae include
IL-1
IL-6
IL-8
What are prostaglandins?
Powerful inflammatory mediators derived from fatty acids that play a role in bone drestruction in periodontitis
What series of prostaglandins play a role in periodontitis?
D
E
F
G
H
I
What do prostaglandins do in regards to inflammation?
Dilation of blood vessels - increase permeability and dilation of blood vessels to promote increased movement of immune cells and complement to the infection site
Trigger osteoclasts to destroy the alveolar bone
What are matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)?
Family of at least 12 different enzymes that are produced by various cells of the body (PMNs, macrophages, fibroblasts, JE cell) and they break down the connective tissue matrix
What are major sources of MMPs in periodontitis?
PMNs
Gingival fibers
What is the function of MMPs in periodontal health?
MMPs facilitate normal turnover of the periodontal connective tissue matrix