ogonz2@email.uky.edu

Periodontal diseases are a group of infections that lead to inflammation of the gingiva and destruction of periodontal tissues. Some periodontopathogens as P.gingivalis, T.denticola, F.nucleatum and A.actinomycetemcomitans among others seem to play key roles in a direct reactivation of latent HIV-1. My research interest is to identify some host cellular factors that would be involved in the indirect HIV reactivation, using an in vitro model of human gingival fibroblasts, epithelial cells, macrophages and T-cells. Several studies have shown that both human gingival fibroblasts and oral epithelial cells play an active role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis through of an active synthesis of inflammatory soluble factors which could be also relevant in the HIV-1 exacerbation. The results of this investigation will help to provide a biological basis for a potential link between periodontal infections and HIV-1 recrudescence and would become valuable for the care and treatment for HIV-1 infected patients.