Figure 6

Estradiol mediated increased colonization and invasion. P. gingivalis W50 colonization (A) or invasion (B) of gingival epithelial cells infected with P. gingivalis with or without estradiol (1 and 100 pg/ml) pre-treatment after 2 h. Colonization quantification of FITC-labeled P. gingivalis W50 is presented as percentage mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of W50. Invasion of gingival epithelial cells by P. gingivalis presents as CFU/well (colony forming units). Data are presented as mean ± SEM of n = 3 independent experiments. The asterisk distinguishes statistical significance: *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001 vs. unstimulated P. gingivalis W50.