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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
Published on: December 11, 2013
Immune response in lymphocyte cultures stimulated by oral bacteria preparations
N Vardjan1, A N Kopitar, N Ihan Hren
1Institute Jozef Stefan, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Insights
Oral bacteria trigger distinct immune responses. Oral streptococci promote Th2 cell differentiation, while anaerobic bacteria induce Th1 cell differentiation, impacting periapical granuloma immunity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Oral Biology
Background:
- Periapical granulomas involve complex immune responses to oral bacteria.
- Understanding lymphocyte subsets' roles is crucial for immune modulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vitro immune response of lymphocytes to oral bacteria.
- To analyze lymphocyte subset differentiation upon stimulation with oral streptococci and anaerobic bacteria.
Main Methods:
- Lymphocyte cultures from leukocyte concentrate were stimulated with oral bacterial antigen preparations.
- Flow cytometry was used to analyze lymphocyte subsets after one week of stimulation.
Main Results:
- Oral streptococci antigens significantly increased INF-gamma in CD3+ cells and HLA-DR on CD8+ T cells.
- Anaerobic bacteria antigens significantly increased IL-4 in CD3+ cells.
- Oral streptococci induced T helper cells to differentiate into Th2 cells.
- Anaerobic bacteria induced T helper cells to differentiate into Th1 cells.
Conclusions:
- Oral bacteria differentially modulate T helper cell differentiation pathways (Th1/Th2).
- Specific bacterial antigens elicit distinct immune profiles in periapical granuloma-associated lymphocytes.
Abstract:
Lymphocyte cultures were used as an in vitro experimental model to get a deeper insight into immune response to oral bacteria in periapical granulomas. Lymphocytes isolated from leucocyte concentrate were in lymphocyte cultures stimulated by antigen preparations of oral bacteria. Lymphocyte subsets that have developed in lymphocyte cultures after a week of stimulation were analysed by flow cytometry. A significant increase in expression of INF-gamma molecules in CD3+ cells stimulated by antigen preparations of oral streptococci was found, compared with negative control. On the other hand we observed a significant increase in expression of IL-4 in CD3+ cells stimulated by antigens of anaerobic bacteria, compared with negative control. Our results show that antigens of oral streptococci in in vitro lymphocyte cultures induce the differentiation of T helper cells into Th2 cells and that antigen preparations of anaerobic bacteria induce the differentiation of T helper cells into Th1 cells. Furthermore, an increased expression of HLA-DR molecules on CD8+ T cells stimulated by antigens of oral streptococci was found, compared with negative control.
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