Protease-dependent mechanisms of complement evasion by bacterial pathogens.

The human immune system has evolved a variety of mechanisms for the primary task of neutralizing and eliminating microbial intruders. As the first line of defense, the complement system is responsible for rapid recognition and opsonization of bacteria, presentation to phagocytes and bacterial cell killing by direct lysis. All successful human pathogens have mechanisms of circumventing the antibacterial activity of the complement system and escaping this stage of the immune response.

Interpain A, a cysteine proteinase from Prevotella intermedia, inhibits complement by degrading complement factor C3.

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the supporting structures of the teeth caused by, among other pathogens, Prevotella intermedia. Many strains of P. intermedia are resistant to killing by the human complement system, which is present at up to 70% of serum concentration in gingival crevicular fluid.

Binding of complement inhibitor C4b-binding protein contributes to serum resistance of Porphyromonas gingivalis.

The periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis is highly resistant to the bactericidal activity of human complement, which is present in the gingival crevicular fluid at 70% of serum concentration. All thirteen clinical and laboratory P. gingivalis strains tested were able to capture the human complement inhibitor C4b-binding protein (C4BP), which may contribute to their serum resistance.