Total IgA and IgA reactivity to antigen I/II epitopes in HLA-DRB1*04 positive subjects

V. Wallace McCarlie, James K. Hartsfield Jr, Janice S. Blum, Carlos González-Cabezas, Judith R. Chin, George J. Eckert, Lorri A. Morford, Mark D. Pescovitz, Henry Rodriguez, Margherita Fontana, Richard L. Gregory

Center for Oral Health Research, Division of Orthodontics, Department of Oral Health Science, and Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Colleges of Dentistry and Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
Center for Oral Health Research, Division of Orthodontics, Department of Oral Health Science, College of Dentistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
Department of Biostatistics, Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Indiana University, Indianapolis, USA.
Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, USA.
Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, USA.
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Indiana University, Indianapolis, USA.
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA.
Departments of Oral Biology and Preventive and Community Dentistry, and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Schools of Dentistry and Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, USA.
Departments of Surgery and Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/oji.2013.33012                

Abstract

Bacterial adherence to the acquired dental pellicle, important in dental caries (caries), is mediated by receptor-adhesins such as salivary agglutinin binding to Streptococcus mutans antigen I/II (I/II). Ten selected I/II epitopes were chosen to determine their reactivity to human salivary IgA. Previous studies suggested that a specific HLA biomarker group (HLA-DRB1*04) may have differential influence of immune responses to I/II. However, it was not known whether secretory IgA (SIgA) responses to the selected epitopes from HLA-DRB1*04 positive subjects were different compared to controls, or across other caries-related factors such as total IgA (TIgA). Thirty-two total subjects were matched according to HLA type, gender, ethnicity and age. HLA genotyping, oral bacterial, immunoglobulin and antibody analyses were performed. A large observed difference emerged with regard to the natural immune reservoir of TIgA in HLA-DRB1*04 positive subjects, specifically, a 27.6% reduction compared to controls. In contrast to all other epitopes studied, HLA-DRB1*04 positive subjects also exhibited reduced reactivity to I/II epitope 834-853. HLA-DRB1*04 positive subjects exhibited lower specific SIgA activity/TIgA to 834-853 and also a lower specific reactivity to 834-853/whole cell S. mutans UA159. Furthermore, HLA-DRB1*04 positive subjects exhibited lower responses to I/II in its entirety. The large observed difference in TIgA and the 834-853 reactivity pattern across multiple measures suggest potentially important connections pertaining to the link between HLA-DRB1*04 and caries.

Keywords

Dental Caries; Streptococcus mutans; I/II; IgA; Immunomodulation; Immunogenetics; HLA-II; DRB1; DRB1*04

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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