Effect of Sodium Fluoride on the Murine Splenic Immune Response to Porphyromonas gingivalis In Vitro

Spleen cells from saline- and Porphyromonas gingivalis-primed mice were cultured and stimulated with or without P. gingivalis and added with or without various concentration of sodium fluoride (NaF). Cell proliferation, antigen-specific IgG antibodies and both IFN-γ and IL-10 levels were determined by a colorimetric assay, ELISA and commercial ELISA kits respectively. The results showed that NaF at concentration of 1×10−6 M enhanced but at concentration of 1×10−1 M abolished the immune response to P. gingivalis, suggesting that NaF at low concentration may act as an adjuvant but at high concentration may be toxic to the P. gingivalis-induced murine splenic immune response in vitro.