DISTINCT NEUTROPHIL RESPONSES TO ORAL COMMENSAL AND PATHOGENIC BIOFILMS

Periodontal disease, one of the most prevalent inflammatory conditions affecting millions of people each year, is initiated by microbial dysbiosis. The accumulation of bacteria in the gingival sulcus results in the recruitment of host immune cells, mostly neutrophils and, when excessive, can trigger a chronic inflammatory response leading to periodontitis. Neutrophils make up 50-70% of the white blood cells and are the first line of defense against bacterial biofilm forming around the teeth. Using flow cytometry, we have characterized neutrophil responses to several significant oral commensal and pathogenic bacteria by assaying the changes in neutrophil surface expressions of specific clusters of differentiation (CD) markers, induction of ROS production and NETosis. In this study, we are able to show that certain commensal bacteria activate neutrophils more than pathogenic bacteria thus providing better insight into the etiology of periodontal disease.M.Sc