Dorothy H Bray

Publications (3)13.57 Total impact

• Article: Treatment of periodontal disease results in improvements in endothelial dysfunction and reduction of the carotid intima-media thickness.

  Stefania Piconi, Daria Trabattoni, Cristina Luraghi, Edoardo Perilli, Manuela Borelli, Michela Pacei, Giuliano Rizzardini, Antonella Lattuada, Dorothy H Bray, Mariella Catalano, Antonella Sparaco, Mario Clerici
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  ABSTRACT: Several cohort studies reported a relation of cardiovascular events and periodontal disease. In particular, Porphyromonas gingivalis is associated with the development of atherosclerotic plaques. We verified in a longitudinal study whether inflammation biomarkers, endothelial adhesion molecules, leukocyte activation markers, and intima-media thickness could be beneficially modified by periodontal treatment alone. Thirty-five otherwise healthy individuals affected by mild to moderate parodontopathy were enrolled in the study. Echo-Doppler cardiography of the carotid artery, fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses on lymphocytes and monocytes, and plasma inflammatory indices were evaluated at baseline and at multiple time points after the periodontal treatment. Results showed that inflammation biomarkers were abnormally increased at baseline. Periodontal treatment resulted in a significant reduction of the total oral bacterial load that was associated with a significant amelioration of inflammation biomarkers and of adhesion and activation proteins. Notably, intima-media thickness was significantly diminished after treatment. Inflammatory alterations associated with the genesis of atherosclerotic plaques are detected in otherwise healthy individuals affected by parodontopathy and are positively influenced by periodontal treatment. Reduction of oral bacterial load results in a modification of an anatomical parameter directly responsible for atherosclerosis. These results shed light on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and could have practical implications for public health.
  The FASEB Journal 01/2009; 23(4):1196-204. · 5.71 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: Moses Sinkala

  Article: The mucosae-associated epithelial chemokine (MEC/CCL28) modulates immunity in HIV infection.

  Eleonora Castelletti, Sergio Lo Caputo, Louise Kuhn, Manuela Borelli, Johanna Gajardo, Moses Sinkala, Daria Trabattoni, Chipepo Kankasa, Eleonora Lauri, Alberto Clivio, Luca Piacentini, Dorothy H Bray, Grace M Aldrovandi, Donald M Thea, Francisco Veas, Manuela Nebuloni, Francesco Mazzotta, Mario Clerici
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  ABSTRACT: CCL28 (MEC) binds to CCR3 and CCR10 and recruits IgA-secreting plasma cells (IgA-ASC) in the mucosal lamina propria (MLP). Mucosal HIV-specific IgA are detected in HIV-infection and exposure. The CCL28 circuit was analyzed in HIV-infected and-exposed individuals and in HIV-unexposed controls; the effect of CCL28 administration on gastrointestinal MLP IgA-ASC was verified in a mouse model. CCL28 was augmented in breast milk (BM) plasma and saliva of HIV-infected and -exposed individuals; CCR3+ and CCR10+ B lymphocytes were increased in these same individuals. Additionally: 1) CCL28 concentration in BM was associated with longer survival in HIV vertically-infected children; and 2) gastro-intestinal mucosal IgA-ASC were significantly increased in VSV-immunized mice receiving CCL28. CCL28 mediates mucosal immunity in HIV exposure and infection. CCL28-including constructs should be considered in mucosal vaccines to prevent HIV infection of the gastro-intestinal MLP via modulation of IgA-ASC.
  PLoS ONE 02/2007; 2(10):e969. · 4.09 Impact Factor
• Article: Immunization with gp120-depleted whole killed HIV immunogen and a second-generation CpG DNA elicits strong HIV-specific responses in mice.

  Daria Trabattoni, Alberto Clivio, Dorothy H Bray, Lakshmi Bhagat, Silvia Beltrami, Giada Maffeis, Eugenio Cesana, Peter Lowry, Francesca Lissoni, Ekambar R Kandimalla, Timothy Sullivan, Sudhir Agrawal, Richard Bartholomew, Mario Clerici
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  ABSTRACT: HIV-1 Immunogen is a gp120-depleted whole killed virus vaccine candidate formulated with Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant (HIV-IFA). We evaluated in a mouse model the immunogenicity of HIV-IFA by itself and when combined with HYB2055, an immunomodulatory oligonucleotide consisting of a novel DNA structure and synthetic CpR immunostimulatory motif, as an adjuvant. C57/BL6 mice were immunized with HIV-IFA alone or combined with HYB2055. Mice treated with HYB2055 or with PBS were used as controls. Compared to HIV-IFA alone, immunization with HIV-IFA and HYB2055 combination elicited strong production of HIV- and p24-specific IFNgamma, RANTES, MIP 1alpha, and MIP 1beta, as well as high titers of HIV- and p24-specific antibodies. Inclusion of HYB2055 also reduced levels of IL-5 produced by HIV-IFA alone. HYB2055 enhances the immunogenicity of HIV-IFA and shifts responses towards a type 1 cytokine profile. The immune enhancing effects of HYB2055 adjuvant were dose-dependent. These findings warrant clinical evaluation of the HIV-1 immunogen/HYB2055 candidate as a therapeutic vaccine for HIV-1 infected patients.
  Vaccine 03/2006; 24(9):1470-7. · 3.77 Impact Factor