Immunoglobulin G subclass response of juvenile periodontitis subjects to principal outer membrane proteins of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans

The cell envelope of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans includes a number of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) which appear to be important targets for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in sera from localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP) patients. In this study, we examined the subclass distribution of IgG antibodies reactive to the 16.6- and 29-kDa OMPs of A. actinomycetemcomitans in sera from LJP patients and periodontally healthy individuals. Antibody responses were determined in a quantitative enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay that employed human IgG subclass-restricted monoclonal antibodies. High-titer LJP sera (93% black; geometric mean titer, 32,673) were found to contain significantly elevated levels of IgG1, IgG2, and IgG3 antibodies to the 29-kDa OMP of A. aetinomycetemcomitans, compared with those of low-Titer LJP sera (mean titer, 1,421) and sera from periodontally healthy, race-matched control subjects. The concentration of IgG2 antibody to this protein was greater than or equal to the corresponding IgG1 concentration in 7 of 14 high-titer sera, although mean IgG1 and IgG2 concentrations were not significantly different. The concentrations of IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies to the 16.6-kDa protein were also significantly elevated in LJP sera, although of considerably lesser magnitude than that observed for the 29-kDa protein. The IgG2 response to the 29-kDa protein could not be attributed to the presence of IgG2 antibodies to lipopolysaccharide contaminants or to Fc-binding activity, nor does this molecule appear to be a glycoprotein. Hence, LJP subjects produce IgG2 antibodies, as well as IgG1 and IgG3 antibodies, directed to at least one of the major OMPs of A. actinomycetemcomitans.