Epitope mapping of Porphyromonas gingivalis heat-shock protein and human heat-shock protein in human atherosclerosis

To identify T- and/or cross-reactive B-cell epitopes of P. gingivalis and human heat-shock protein (HSP) 60 in atherosclerosis patients, we synthesized 104 overlapping synthetic peptides spanning whole molecules of P. gingivalis HSP60 and human HSP60, respectively. T- cell epitopes of P. gingivalis HSP were identified with the use of previously established P. gingivalis HSP-reactive T- cell lines. B-cell epitopes of P. gingivalis HSP60 and human HSP60 were identified by the use of patients' sera. Anti-P. gingivalis, anti-P. gingivalis HSP60, or anti-human HSP60 IgG antibody titers were higher in the atherosclerosis patients compared with the healthy subjects. Five immunodominant peptides of P. gingivalis HSP60, identified as T- cell epitopes, were also found to be B-cell epitopes. Moreover, 6 cross-reactive B-cell epitopes of human HSP60 were identified. It was concluded that P. gingivalis HSP60 might be involved in the immunoregulatory process of atherosclerosis, with common T- and/or B-cell epitope specificities and with cross-reactivity with human HSP60.