THE IMPORTANCE OF AGGREGATIBACTER ACTINOMYCETEMCOMITANS IN ETIOLOGY OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE - MINI REVIEW

Abstract

Periodontal disease is a chronic, degenerative disease of parodontium which is made of gingiva, periodontal ligament, cementum and alveolar bone. The main etiological factor for development of periodontal disease is dental plaque or oral biofilm in association with anaerobic bacteria. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is one of the most powerful periodonthopathogens. This microorganism produces many virulent factors: leucotoxin as the most important, then bacteriocin, chemotaxis inhibiting factor, cytotoxic factors, Fc binding proteins, immunosuppressive factors, lipopolysaccharide collagenase, fibroblast inhibiting factor, antibiotic resistance determinants, adhesives, invasives and function inhibiting factor of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The ability of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans lipopolysaccharides to stimulate macrophages to release interleukins IL-1, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is of main importance. These cytokines are able to stimulate the bone resorption. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis represent exogenous microorganisms, based on its minor presence in healthy individuals. It has been recommended that periodontal diseases associated with periodontal pathogens represent "true infections".

Keywords

• Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans
• periodontal disease