[P1-2-29] Analysis of Streptococcus mutans-induced innate immune response
Keywords:ミュータンス連鎖球菌、感染防御、自然免疫
Macrophages and dendritic cells, which play important roles in the host defence, express various innate immune receptors to detect pathogens. These receptors are also called pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) because they recognize pathogens through pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Toll-like receptors, NOD-like receptors, and RIG-I-like receptors are well-known PRRs that recognize several ligands, including pathogen-specific proteins, nucleic acids, and sugar chains. In recent years, a PRR family that recognizes bacterial lipid components including glycolipids has also been reported. On the other hand, although various pathogens that cause dental caries and periodontal disease are found in the oral cavity, their immunostimulatory activities and host receptors have not yet been fully identified. For example, glucosyltransferase, one of the virulence in Streptococcus mutans, has been extensively analyzed for virulence factors such as glucosyltransferases, but little is known about the host immune response against this cariogenic bacterium. To understand the molecular mechanism of the immune response induced by S. mutans, we first attempted to identify the innate immune receptors for this bacterium. In this presentation, we would like to discuss the S. mutans-induced innate immune response, including the production of inflammatory cytokines from macrophages and dendritic cells.