Identification of Porphyromonas gingivalis genes specifically expressed in human gingival epithelial cells by using differential display reverse transcription-PCR.

Porphyromonas gingivalis, one of the causative agents of adult periodontitis, can invade and survive within host epithelial cells. The molecular mechanisms by which P. gingivalis induces uptake and adapts to an intracellular environment are not fully understood. In this study, we have investigated the genetic responses of P. gingivalis internalized within human gingival epithelial cells (GECs) in order to identify factors involved in invasion and survival. We compared the differential display of arbitrarily PCR-amplified gene transcripts in P. gingivalis recovered from GECs with the display of transcripts in P. gingivalis control cultures. Over 20 potential differentially expressed transcripts were identified. Among these, pepO, encoding an endopeptidase, and genes encoding an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter and a cation-transporting ATPase were upregulated in GECs. To investigate the functionality of these gene products, mutants were generated by insertional inactivation. Compared to the parental strain, mutants of each gene showed a significant reduction in their invasion capabilities. In addition, GEC cytoskeletal responses to the mutants were distinct from those induced by the parent. In contrast, adhesion of the mutant strains to GECs was not affected by lack of expression of the gene products. These results suggest that PepO, a cation-transporting ATPase, and an ABC transporter are required for the intracellular lifestyle of P. gingivalis.