Western Society of Periodontics

Laboratory Studies

Volume Number 4, 1995

Volatile fatty acids, metabolic byproducts of periodontopathic bacteria, inhibit lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production

Short-chain fatty acids, a major byproduct of anaerobic metabolism detected in gingival fluid from periodontal fluids, were examined for their effect on the proliferation and cytokine production of mouse splenic cells. A low-molecular-weight, heat-stable agent present in the two-day culture filtrate of P. gingivalis, Prevotella loescheii, and F. nucleatum significantly depressed Con A- and LPS-induced cell proliferation. Extracted volatile and non-volatile fatty acids were tested for their effect on mitogenic activity. The volatile fatty acids extracted from immunosuppressive supernatants greatly inhibited T- and B-cell proliferation. The fatty acids also depressed interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10 production by Con A-stimulated splenic-T cells dose dependently. The results suggest that the volatile fatty acids produced by periodontopathic bacteria easily penetrate the oral mucosa and severely harm periodontal tissue, including immunoregulatory cells. [J.Y.K.]