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Aim: This randomized clinical study was designed to evaluate the effect of probiotic intervention using lactobacilli on the periodontal condition of volunteers without severe periodontitis. Material and Methods: Freeze-dried Lactobacillus salivarius WB21 (WB21)-containing tablets or a placebo were given to volunteers in a double-blind randomized study. A total of 66 volunteers were finally enrolled and randomly assigned to receive tablets containing WB21 (6.7 x 108 CFU) with xylitol or xylitol alone (placebo) three times a day for 8 weeks. Periodontal clinical parameters and whole saliva samples were obtained at baseline (BL), 4 weeks, and the end of the interventional period (8 weeks). Salivary lactoferrin (Lf) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Lactobacilli in saliva and plaque samples was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR using 16S rRNA primers. Results: Periodontal clinical parameters were improved in both groups after an 8-week intervention. Current smokers in the test group showed a significantly greater improvement of plaque index and probing pocket depth from BL when compared with those in the placebo group. Salivary Lf level was also significantly decreased in the test group smokers. Conclusion: Our results indicate that probiotics could be useful in the improvement/maintenance of oral health in subjects at a high risk of periodontal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Dendritic cells (DCs) play a critical role in activation of T cells as well as shaping immune responses. DCs express a pattern of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) to recognize invading pathogens and to initiate specific immune responses. In this study, we investigated the effect of Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbriae on the phenotype and function of human peripheral blood DCs (PBDCs) in comparison to TLR2 and TLR4 ligand, peptidoglycan (PGN) from Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli O55:B5 LPS, respectively. P. gingivalis fimbriae and PGN preferentially upregulated CD14 and CD16 expression on immature PBDCs (CD14?CD16?), although E. coli LPS did not alter the expression of these molecules. Fimbriae-stimulated DCs also exhibited a different profile of cytokine production and surface molecule expression as compared with E. coli LPS-stimulated DCs. Pretreatment of PBDCs with anti-TLR2 monoclonal antibody (mAb), but not with anti-TLR4 mAb, abrogated the upregulation of CD14 and CD16 on fimbriae and PGN-treated DCs. These results indicate that different TLR signaling affects the mature DC phenotype and function and is thus crucial to the regulation of immunity to the pathogen. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]