Protein citrulation as the basis of Porphyromonas gingivalis pathogenicity

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gum tissues which leads to tooth loss. Moreover it was observed that there is a connection between occurrence of periodontitis and other chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. These two diseases have similar risk factors and mechanism.

The search for molecular mechanism of connection between inflammation of gingiva and joints is ongoing for many years. The most promising proposition is the action of enzymes produced by pathologic microflora on the tooth surface, which can trigger the immune system and lead to progression of rheumatoid arthritis.

The current project aims to elucidate the function of one of such enzymes, peptidylarginine deiminase PPAD which catalyzes citrullination of proteins, and to investigate how it can be involved in the onset of both periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis. To accomplish this we will identify bacterial proteins modified by PPAD that interact with the cells of the gums. We will investigate the ability of PPAD to stimulate lymphocytes T and the connection of highly active PPAD with periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis.