B-cell mitogenicity and IL-1 beta production of lipopolysaccharides from various Capnocytophaga strains.

To evaluate the etiological roles of Capnocytophaga species in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease, we examined the immunological activities of lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) from various Capnocytophaga strains. All LPSs from various Capnocytophaga species were mitogenic for BALB/c mouse spleen cells, although the responses were lower than those to reference LPSs from Escherichia coli or Salmonella typhimurium. LPSs of C. sputigena strains had polyclonal B cell activation and adjuvant activity and were comparable to reference LPSs. All LPSs from Capnocytophaga strains activated the interleukin-1 beta production from human peripheral monocytes, although the inducing activities of Capnocytophaga LPSs were lower than those of reference LPSs. It appears that LPSs from various Capnocytophaga strains activate certain immunological responses from lymphocytes and monocytes which may be important in the development and pathogenesis of periodontal disease.