AUTHOR=Nunes J. Massimo , Fillis Tristan , Page Martin J. , Venter Chantelle , Lancry Ophélie , Kell Douglas B. , Windberger Ursula , Pretorius Etheresia 

TITLE=Gingipain R1 and Lipopolysaccharide From Porphyromonas gingivalis Have Major Effects on Blood Clot Morphology and Mechanics

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01551

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2020.01551

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold><italic>Porphyromonas gingivalis</italic> and its inflammagens are associated with a number of systemic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The proteases, gingipains, have also recently been identified in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients and in the blood of Parkinson's disease patients. Bacterial inflammagens, including lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) and various proteases in circulation, may drive systemic inflammation.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Here, we investigate the effects of the bacterial products LPS from <italic>Escherichia coli</italic> and <italic>Porphyromonas gingivalis</italic>, and also the <italic>P. gingivalis</italic> gingipain [recombinant <italic>P. gingivalis</italic> gingipain R1 (RgpA)], on clot architecture and clot formation in whole blood and plasma from healthy individuals, as well as in purified fibrinogen models. Structural analysis of clots was performed using confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and AFM-Raman imaging. We use thromboelastography® (TEG®) and rheometry to compare the static and dynamic mechanical properties of clots.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> We found that these inflammagens may interact with fibrin(ogen) and this interaction causes anomalous blood clotting.</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> These techniques, in combination, provide insight into the effects of these bacterial products on cardiovascular health, and particularly clot structure and mechanics.</p>