Porphyromonas gingivalis Induces Chronic Kidney Disease through Crosstalk between the NF-κB/NLRP3 Pathway and Ferroptosis in GMCs

Objective Porphyromonas gingivalis(P.gingivalis)is a gram-negative bacterium found in the human oral cavity and is a recognized pathogenic bacterium associated with chronic periodontitis and systemic diseases,including chronic kidney disease(CKD),but the roles and molecular mechanism of P.gingivalis in CKD pathogenesis are unclear.Methods In this study,an animal model of oral P.gingivalis administration and glomerular mesangial cells(GMCs)cocultured with M1-polarized macrophages and P.gingivalis supernatant were constructed.After seven weeks of P.gingivalis gavaged,peripheral blood was collected to detect the changes in renal function.By collecting the teeth and kidneys of mice,H&E staining and IHC were used to analyze the expression of periodontal inflammatory factors in mice,PAS staining was used to analyze glomerular lesions.The supernatant of macrophages was treated with 5%P.gingivalis supernatant.H&E staining,IHC,Western blot and RT-PCR were applied to analyze renal inflammatory factors,macrophage M1 polarization,NF-κB,NLRP3 and ferroptosis changes in vitro.Results We found that oral P.gingivalis administration induced CKD in mice.P.gingivalis supernatant induced macrophage polarization and inflammatory factor upregulation,which triggered the activation of the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway and ferroptosis in GMCs.By inhibiting the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway and ferroptosis in GMCs,cell viability and the inflammatory response were partially alleviated in vitro.Conclusion We demonstrated that P.gingivalis induced CKD in mice by triggering crosstalk between the NFκB/NLRP3 pathway and ferroptosis in GMCs.Overall,our study suggested that periodontitis can promote the pathogenesis of CKD in mice,which provides evidence of the importance of periodontitis therapy in the prevention and treatment of CKD.

Presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis in gingival squamous cell carcinoma

Periodontal disease has been recently linked to a variety of systemic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, preterm delivery, and oral cancer. The most common bacteria associated with periodontal disease, Porphyromonas gingivalis （P. gingivalis） has not yet been studied in the malignant gingival tissues. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of R gingivalis in specimens from squamous cell carcinoma patients. We have performed immunohistochemical staining to investigate the presence of R gingivafis and Streptococcus gordonii （S. gordonii）, a non invasive oral bacteria, in paraffin embedded samples of gingival squamous cell carcinoma （n=10） and normal gingiva （n=5）. Staining for R gingivalis revealed the presence of the bacteria in normal gingival tissues and gingival carcinoma, with higher levels （more than 33%, P〈0.05） detected in the carcinoma samples. The staining intensity was also significantly enhanced in the malignant tissue by 2 folds （P〈0.023） compared to specimens stained for the non-invasive S. gordonii. R gingivalis is abundantly present in malignant oral epithelium suggesting a potential association of the bacteria with gingival squamous cell carcinoma.

Porphyromonas gingivalis and digestive system cancers

Porphyromonas gingivalis(P. gingivalis) is an anaerobic gram-negative bacterium that colonizes in the epithelium and has been strongly associated with periodontal disease. Recently, various degrees of associations between P.gingivalis and digestive system cancers, including oral squamous cell carcinoma in the oral cavity, oesophageal squamous carcinoma in the digestive tract, and pancreatic cancer in pancreatic tissues, have been displayed in multiple clinical and experimental studies. Since P. gingivalis has a strong association with periodontal diseases, not only the relationships between P. gingivalis and digestive system tumours but also the effects induced by periodontal diseases on cancers are well-illustrated in this review. In addition, the prevention and possible treatments for these digestive system tumours induced by P. gingivalis infection are also included in this review. At the end, we also highlighted the possible mechanisms of cancers caused by P. gingivalis. One important carcinogenic effect of P. gingivalis is inhibiting the apoptosis of epithelial cells,which also plays an intrinsic role in protecting cancerous cells. Some signalling pathways activated by P. gingivalis are involved in cell apoptosis, tumourigenesis,immune evasion and cell invasion of tumour cells. In addition, metabolism of potentially carcinogenic substances caused by P. gingivalis is also one of the connections between this bacterium and cancers.

Association between infection of different strains of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in subgingival plaque and clinical parameters in chronic periodontitis

Objective： The aim of this study was to investigate subgingival infection frequencies ofPorphyromonas gingivalis and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans strains with genetic variation in Chinese chronic periodontitis （CP） patients and to evaluate its correlation with clinical parameters. Methods： Two multiplex polymerase chain reaction （PCR） assays were developed to detect the 16SrDNA, collagenase （prtC） and fimbria （fimA） genes of P. gingivalis and the 16SrDNA, leukotoxin （lktA） and fimbria-associated protein （fap） genes ofA. actinomycetemcomitans in 60 sulcus samples from 30 periodontal healthy subjects and in 122 subgingival plaque samples from 61 patients with CP. The PCR products were further T-A cloned and sent for nucleotide sequence analysis. Results： The 16SrDNA,prtC andfimA genes ofP. gingivalis were detected in 92.6%, 85.2% and 80.3% of the subgingival plaque samples respectively, while the 16SrDNA, lktA andfap genes ofA. actinomycetemcomitans were in 84.4%, 75.4% and 50.0% respectively. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed 98.62%-100% homology of the PCR products in these genes with the reported sequences. P. gingivalis strains with prtC＋/fimA＋ and A. actinomycetemcomitans with lktA＋ were predominant in deep pockets （〉6 mm） or in sites with attachment loss 〉5 mm than in shallow pockets （3-4 mm） or in sites with attachment loss 〈2 mm （P〈0.05）. P. gingivalis strains withprtC＋/fimA＋ also showed higher frequency in gingival index （GI）=3 than in GI=1 group （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Infection ofP. gingivalis with prtC＋/fimA＋ and A. actinomycetemcomitans with lktA＋ correlates with periodontal destruction of CP in Chinese. Nonetheless P. gingivalis fim4, prtC genes and A. actinomycetem- comitans lktA gene are closely associated with periodontal destruction, while A. actinomycetemcomitansfap gene is not.

Analysis of differential expression of tight junction proteins in cultured oral epithelial cells altered by Porphyromonas gingivalis,Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide,and extracellular adenosine triphosphate

Tight junctions （TJs） are the most apical intercellular junctions of epithelial cells formed by occludin, claudins, junctional adhesion molecules （JAMs）, and zonula occludens （ZO）. Tight junction proteins can sense the presence of bacteria and regulate the transcription of target genes that encode effectors and regulators of the immune response. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of TJ proteins in response to Porphyromonas gingivalis （P. gingivalis）, P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide （P. gingivalis LPS）, and extracellular adenosine triphosphate （ATP） in the oral epithelial cell culture model. Quantified real time- polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）, immunoblots, and immunostaining were performed to assess the gene and protein expression in TJs. It was found that P. gingivalis infection led to transient upregulation of the genes encoding occludin, claudin- 1, and claudin-4 but not JAM-A, claudin-15, or ZO-1, while P. gingivalis LPS increased claudin-1, claudin-15, and ZO-1 and decreased occludin, JAM-A, and claudin-4. Tight junction proteins showed significant upregulation in the above two groups when cells were pretreated with ATP for 3 h. The findings indicated that P. gingivalis induced the host defence responses at an early stage. P. gingivalis LPS exerted a more powerful stimulatory effect on the disruption of the epithelial barrier than P. gingivalis. ATP stimulation enhanced the reaction of TJ proteins to P. gingivalis invasion and LPS destruction of the epithelium.

Micromolar sodium fluoride mediates anti-osteoclastogenesis in Porphyromonas gingivalis-induced alveolar bone loss

Osteoclasts are bone-specific multinucleated cells generated by the differentiation of monocyte/macrophage lineage precursors. Regulation of osteoclast differentiation is considered an effective therapeutic approach to the treatment of bone-lytic diseases. Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease characterized by extensive bone resorption. In this study, we investigated the effects of sodium fluoride （NaF） on osteoclastogenesis induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis, an important colonizer of the oral cavity that has been implicated in periodontitis. NaF strongly inhibited the P. gingivalis-induced alveolar bone loss. That effect was accompanied by decreased levels of cathepsin K, interleukin （IL）-1β, matrix metalloproteinase 9 （MMP9）, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, which were up-regulated during P. gingivalis-induced osteoclastogenesis. Consistent with the in vivo anti-osteoclastogenic effect, NaF inhibited osteoclast formation caused by the differentiation factor RANKL （receptor activator of nuclear factor KB ligand） and macrophage colony-stimulating factor （M-CSF）. The RANKL-stimulated induction of the transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T cells （NFAT） cl was also abrogated by NaF. Taken together, our data demonstrate that NaF inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis by reducing the induction of NFATcl, ultimately leading to the suppressed expression of cathepsin K and MMP9. The in vivo effect of NaF on the inhibition of P. gingivalis-induced osteoclastogenesis strengthens the potential usefulness of NaF for treating periodontal diseases.

Ghrelin-induced cSrc activation through constitutive nitric oxide synthase-dependent S-nitrosylation in modulation of salivary gland acinar cell inflammatory responses to <i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i>

A peptide hormone, ghrelin, recognized for its role in the regulation of nitric oxide production has emerged as an important modulator of oral mucosal inflammatory responses to periodontopathic bacterium, P. gingivalis. As cSrc kinase plays a major role in controlling the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) system, in this study we investigated the influence of P. gingivalis LPS on the processes of Src activation in rat sublingual gland acinar cells. The LPS-induced enhancement in the activity of inducible (i) iNOS and the impairment in constitutive (c) cNOS were reflected in the suppression in cSrc activity and the extent of its phosphorylation at Tyr416. Further, we show that the countering effect of ghrelin on the LPS-induced changes in cSrc activity and the extent of its phosphorylation was accompanied by a marked reduction in iNOS and the increase in cNOS activation through phosphorylation at Ser1179. Moreover, the effect of ghrelin on cSrc activation was associated with the kinase S-nitrosylation that was susceptible to the blockage by cNOS inhibition. Our findings suggest that P. gingivalis-induced up-regulation in iNOS leads to disturbances in cNOS phosphorylation that exerts the detrimental effect on the processes of cSrc activation through cNOS mediated S-nitrosylation. We also show that the effect of ghrelin on P. gingivalis-induced inflammatory changes are manifested in the enhancement in cSrc activation through S-nitrosylation and the increase in its phosphorylation at Tyr416.

Role of ghrelin in modulation of s-nitrosylation-Dependent akt inactivation induced in salivary gland acinar cells by porphyromonas gingivalis

Ghrelin, a peptide hormone, newly identified in oral mucosal tissue, has emerged re-cently as a principal modulator of the in-flammatory responses to bacterial infection through the regulation of nitric oxide syn-thase system. In this study, using rat sub-lingual salivary gland acinar cells, we report that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of periodon-topathic bacterium, P. gingivalis- induced enhancement in the activity of inducible ni-tric oxide synthase (iNOS) was associated with the suppression in Akt kinase activity and the impairment in constitutive (c) cNOS phosphorylation. Further, we show that the detrimental effect of the LPS on Akt activa-tion, manifested in the kinase protein S-nitrosylation and a decrease in its phos-phorylation at Ser473, was susceptible to suppression by iNOS inhibitor, 1400W. Moreover, we demonstrate that a peptide hormone, ghrelin, countered the LPS- induced changes in Akt activity and NOS system. This effect of ghrelin was reflected in the decreased in Akt S-nitrosylation and the increase in its phosphorylation at Ser473, as well as cNOS activation through phos-phorylation. Our findings suggest that P. gingivalis-induced up-regulation in iNOS leads to Akt kinase inactivation through S-nitrosylation that impacts cNOS activation through phosphorylation. We also show that the countering effect of ghrelin on P. gingivalis-induced disturbances in Akt ac-tivation are manifested in a decrease in the kinase S-nitrosylation and the increase in its phosphorylation.

Porphyromonas gingivalis Resistance to Polymyxin B Is Determined by the Lipid A 4’-Phosphatase, PGN_0524

Aim To elucidate the genetic basis for the pronounced resistance that the oral pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis （P. gingivalis）, exhibits towards the cationic antimicrobial peptide, polymyxin B. Methodology A genetic screen of P. gingivalis clones generated by a Tn4400-based random insertion mutagenesis strategy was performed to identify bacteria harboring novel genetic mutations that render P. gingivalis susceptible to killing by the cationic antimicrobial peptide, polymyxin B （PMB, 50μg·mL^-1）. Results P. gingivalis （ATCC 33277） is unusually resistant to the cationic antimicrobial peptide, PMB at relatively high concentrations （200μg·mL^-1）. Approximately 2,700 independent Tn4400 ＇-derived mutants ofP. gingivalis were examined for increased sensitivity to PMB killing at a relatively low dose （50 μg·mL^-1）. A single PMB-sensitive mutant was obtained in this phenotypic screen. We determined that the Tn4400＇ transposon was integrated into the gene encoding the lipid A 4＇-phosphatase, PGN 0524, demonstrating that this insertion event was responsible for its increased susceptibility of this clone to PMB-dependent killing. The resulting mutant strain, designated 0524-Tn4400＇, was highly sensitive to PMB killing relative to wild-type P. gingivalis, and exhibited the same sensitivity as the previously characterized strain, 0524KO, which bears a genetically engineered deletion in the PGN_0524 locus. Positive ion mass spectrometric structural （MALDI-TOF MS） analyses revealed that lipid A isolates from 0524-Tn4400＂ and 0524KO strains displayed strikingly similar MALDI-TOF MS spectra that were substantially different from the wildtype P gingivalis lipid A spectrum. Finally, intact 0524- Tn4400＇ and 0524KO mutant bacteria, as well as their corresponding LPS isolates, were significantly more potent in stimulating Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）-dependent E-selectin expression in human endothelial cells relative to intact wild-type P.. gingivalis or its corresponding LPS isolate. Conclusion The combined molecular evidence provided in this report suggests that PGN 0524, a lipid A 4＇-phosphatase, is the sole genetic element conferring the ability of the periodontopathogen, P. gingivalis, to evade the killing activity of cationic antimicrobial peptides, such as PMB. These data strongly implicate PGN_0524 as a critical virulence factor for the ability of P.. gingivalis to evade front-line host innate defenses that are dependent upon cationic antimicrobial peptide activity and TLR 4 sensing.

<i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i>-Stimulated TACE Activation for TGF-<i>α</i>Ectodomain Shedding and EGFR Transactivation in Salivary Gland Cells Requires Rac1-Dependent p38 MAPK Membrane Localization

Oral mucosal inflammatory responses to P. gingivalis and its key virulence factor, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), are characterized by a massive rise in proinflammatory cytokine production, up-regu- lation in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, and the induction in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation. In this study, we report that stimulation of salivary gland acinar cells with P. gingivalis LPS leads to p38 MAPK-dependent release of soluble TGF-α ligand and the increase in EGFR phosphorylation. Further, we show that the LPS-induced TGF-α shedding and EGFR transactivation involve the activation of membrane-associated metalloprotease, TACE also known as ADAM17, through phosphorylation by p38 MAPK, and require Rac1 participation. Moreover, we demonstrate that blocking the Rac1 activation leads to the suppression in the membrane translocation of Rac1 as well as p38, thus indicating that the LPS-elicited p38 membrane recruitment for TACE phosphorylation requires colocalization with Rac1. Hence, our findings imply that Rac1 membrane translocation serves as an essential platform for the localization of p38 with TACE, TGF-α ectodomain shedding, and the EGFR activation.

Characterization of Fusobacterium nucleatum ATCC 23726 adhesins involved in strain-specific attachment to Porphyromonas gingivalis

Bacterial adherence is an essential virulence factor in pathogenesis and infection. Fusobacterium nucleatum has a central role in oral biofilm architecture by acting as a bridge between early Gram-positive and late Gram-negative colonizers that do not otherwise adhere to each other. In this study, we survey a key adherence interaction of F. nucleatum with Porphyromonas gingivalis, and present evidence that multiple fusobacterial adhesins have a role in the attachment of F. nucleatum ATCC 23726 to P. gingivalis in a highly strain-dependent manner. Interaction between these species displayed varying sensitivities to arginine, galactose and lactose. Arginine was found to hamper coaggregation by at least 62% and up to 89% with several P. gingivalis strains and galactose inhibition ranged from no inhibition up to 58% with the same P. gingivalis strains. Lactose consistently inhibited F. nucleatum interaction with these P. gingivalis strains ranging from 40% to 56% decrease in coaggregation. Among the adhesins involved are the previously described Fap2 and surprisingly, RadD, which was described in an earlier study for its function in attachment of F. nucleatum to Gram-positive species. We also provide evidence for the presence of at least one additional adhesin that is sensitive to arginine but unlike Fap2 and RadD, is not a member of the autotransporter family type of fusobacterial large outer membrane proteins. The strain-specific binding profile of multiple fusobacterial adhesins to P. gingivalis highlights the heterogeneity and complexity of interspecies interactions in the oral cavity.

Intragingival injection of Porphyromonas gingivalis-derived lipopolysaccharide induces a transient increase in gingival tumour necrosis factor-a, but not interleukin-6,in anaesthetised rats

This study used in vivo microdialysis to examine the effects of intragingival application of lipopolysaccharide（LPS） derived from Porphyromonas gingivalis（Pg-LPS） on gingival tumour necrosis factor（TNF）-a and interleukin（IL）-6 levels in rats. A microdialysis probe with an injection needle attached to the surface of the dialysis membrane was implanted into the gingiva of the upper incisor. For comparison, the effects of LPS derived from Escherichia coli（Ec-LPS） on IL-6 and TNF-a levels were also analysed. Pg-LPS（1 mg/1 m L） or Ec-LPS（1 or 6 mg/1 m L） was applied by microsyringe, with gingival dialysates collected every hour. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） revealed that gingival dialysates contained approximately 389 pg？m L21 of IL-6 basally; basal TNF-a levels were lower than the detection limit of the ELISA. Pg-LPS failed to alter IL-6 levels but markedly increased TNF-a levels, which remained elevated for 2 h after treatment. Neither IL-6 nor TNF-a were affected by Ec-LPS. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction（RT-PCR） analysis revealed that the gingiva expresses Toll-like receptor（TLR） 2 and TLR4 m RNA. Immunohistochemical examination showed that TLR2 and TLR4 are expressed by gingival epithelial cells. The present study provides in vivo evidence that locally applied Pg-LPS, but not Ec-LPS, into the gingiva transiently increases gingival TNF-a without affecting IL-6. The present results suggest that TLR2 but not TLR4 expressed on gingival epithelial cells may mediate the Pg-LPS-induced increase in gingival TNF-a in rats.

Role of α-Tubulin Acetylation and Protein Kinase D2 Ser/Tyr Phosphorylation in Modulation by Ghrelin of Porphyromonas gingivalis-Induced Enhancement in Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) Secretion by Salivary Gland Cells

Matrix metalloproteinas-9 (MMP-9) is a glycosylated endopeptidase, and hence its processing between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi and trans-Golgi (TGN) network remains under a strict control of factors that affect the microtubule (MT) stabilization, and the recruitment and activation of coat and cargo proteins, including ADP-ribosylation factors (Arfs) and protein kinase D (PKD). Here, we report on the factors implicated in the regulation of MMP-9 secretion by salivary gland acinar cells in response to P. gingivalis LPS, and the effect of hormone, ghrelin. We show that the LPS-elicited induction in MMP-9 secretion is associated with the increase in α-tubulin acetylation and the enhancement in MT stabilization, while the modulatory effect of ghrelin is reflected in a decrease in α-tubulin acetylation. Further, the effect of the LPS occurs in concert with up-regulation in Arf-guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF)-mediated Arf1 activation and the TGN recruitment of PKD2, while ghrelin exerts the modulatory effect on Arf-GEF activation. Moreover, we reveal that the LPS-induced up-regulation in MMP-9 secretion is reflected in a marked increase in PKCδ-mediated PKD2 phosphorylation on Ser, while the modulatory effect of ghrelin is manifested by the SFK-PTKs-dependent phosphorylation of PKD2 on Tyr. The findings demonstrate that MT stabilization along with Arf-GEF-mediated Arf1/PKD2 activation play a major role in P. gingivalis LPS-induced up-regulation in salivary gland acinar cell MMP-9 secretion, and point the modulatory mode of action by ghrelin.

An early report: a modified porphyrin-linked metronidazole targeting intracellular Porphyromonas gingivalis in cultured oral epithelial cells

Porphyromonas gingivalis （P. gingivalis） has a strong association with the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. Recurrence of periodontal disease following therapy is attributed to numerous factors, and of growing interest is the potential problem of intracellular bacteria that are able to persist and multiply within the host cell, thereby facilitating relapse of infection. The effect of antibiotic therapy in controlling P. gingivalis is questionable. Accordingly, while metronidazole is very effective against anaerobic extracellular P. gingivalis by disrupting the DNA of anaerobic microbial cells, this antibiotic does not effectively penetrate into mammalian cells to inhibit intracellular bacteria. Therefore in the present study, a modified porphyrin-linked metronidazole adducts, developed in our laboratory, was used to kill intracellular P. gingivalis. A series of experiments were performed, including cytotoxicity assays and cellular uptake of adducts by flow cytometry coupled with live cell imaging analysis, P. gingivalis invasion and elimination assays, and the analysis of colocalization of P. gingivalis and porphyrin-linked metronidazole by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Findings indicated that P. gingivalis and porphyrin-linked metronidazole were colocalized in the cytoplasm, and this compound was able to kill P. gingivalis intracellular with a sufficient culture time. This is a novel antimicrobial approach in the elimination of P. gingivalis from the oral cavity.

Role of Rac1/p38 and ERK-Dependent Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 Activation in Porphyromonas gingivalis-Evoked Induction in Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) Release by Salivary Gland Cells

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is a highly glycosylated endopeptidase implicated in a wide rage of oral mucosal inflammatory and neoplastic diseases, including chronic periodontitis, a persistent mucosal inflammation attributed primarily to infection by oral anaerobe, P. gingivalis. In this study, we explored the role of Rac1 and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in the processes of MMP-9 release in sublingual salivary gland cells exposed to P. gingivalis key endotoxin, cell wall lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We demonstrate that the LPS-elicited induction in the acinar cell MMP-9 release is associated with MAPK, ERK and p38 activation, and occurs with the involvement of Rac1 and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). Further, we reveal that the LPS-induced MMP-9 release involves ERK-mediated phosphorylation of cPLA2 on Ser505 that is essential for its membrane translocation with Rac1, and that this process requires p38 activation. Moreover, we show that phosphorylation and membrane localization of p38 with Rac1-GTP play a pivotal role in cPLA2-dependent induction in MMP-9 release. Thus collectively, our findings infer that P. gingivalis LPS-induced up-regulation in the acinar cell MMP-9 release requires ERK-dependent recruitment of cPLA2 to the membrane localized Rac1/p38 complex.

BET protein inhibitor apabetalone represses Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS-induced macrophage M1 polarization via regulating miR-130a/STAT3 axis

Periodontitis is a frequent chronic inflammatory disorder destroying periodontium.Recent studies have revealed the role of bromodomain and extraterminal domain inhibitor(BETi)and microRNA(miR)-130a in regulating macrophage polarization and pro-inflammatory response.However,little is known about whether apabetalone(a novel BETi)and miR-130a are correlated with chronic inflammatory state in periodontitis by regulating macrophage polarization.Here murine RAW264.7 macrophages were applied as an in vitro inflammatory model.After treatment with Porphyromonas gingivalis-derived lipopolysaccharide(Pg LPS)and apabetalone,the expression of macrophage M1 polarization markers and inflammatory cytokines was assessed using real-time PCR,western blot,and enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay(ELISA).MiR-130a level was assessed using real-time PCR,and the target gene was identified using dual luciferase reporter assay.We demonstrated that apabetalone repressed Pg LPS-induced macrophage M1 polarization in a dose-dependent manner,as evidenced by decreased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),CD86,and pro-inflammatory cytokines,and increased expression of Arg-1 and CD206.Mechanistically,Pg LPS increased miR-130a expression in macrophages,whereas apabetalone treatment repressed the effect.Functionally,forced expression of miR-130a promoted macrophage M1 polarization,and signal transducer and activator of transcription(STAT)-3 was the direct target gene of miR-130a in the process.Taken together,apabetalone decreases Pg LPS-induced macrophage M1 polarization via regulating miR-130a-3p/STAT3 axis,and may be a promising target for the clinical management of periodontitis.

Role of Protein Kinase C<i>δ</i>-Mediated Spleen Tyrosine Kinase (Syk) Phosphorylation on Ser in the Amplification of Oral Mucosal Inflammatory Responses to <i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i>

The signaling events underlying oral mucosal inflammatory responses to P. gingivalis and its key endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), relay primarily on the LPS engagement of Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4), and the activation of IκB-kinase complex (IKK) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs that exert their control over transcription factors implicated in the regulation of iNOS and COX-2 proinflammatory genes expression). Since spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) has emerged recently as a major amplifier in the production of proinflammatory mediators, we investigated the process of recruitment and interaction of Syk with TLR4 in salivary gland acinar cells in response to P. gingivalis LPS. Our findings revealed that stimulation of the acinar cells with the LPS leads to protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ)-mediated phosphorylation of Syk on Ser which results in its localization with the membrane associated TLR4 complex and the activation through phosphorylation on Tyr. Further, our results support the involvement of Syk in the amplification of transcription factors involved in the assembly and expression of transcription complexes associated with the induction in COX-2 and iNOS genes. Therefore, our data suggest that PKCδ is a primary linchpin affecting the Syk recruitment to the membrane localized TLR4, and hence affects the efficiency of the kinase activation and the magnitude of oral mucosal inflammatory response to P. gingivalis.

Proinflammatory Pathways Engaged by Oral Pathogen <i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i>in Upregulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Expression in Periodontal Disease

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is a potent endopeptidase implicated in a wide range of inflammatory and neoplastic diseases, including chronic periodontitis, a persistent oral mucosal inflammation attributed primarily to infection by P. gingivalis. Here, we review the signaling pathways engaged by P. gingivalis in controlling the processing and secretion of MMP-9. The induction in oral mucosal expression of MMP-9 by P. gingivalis relays primarily on its key endotoxin, LPS, engagement of TLR4 and the activation of MAPK, ERK and p38 cascades implicated in the stimulation of Rac1 and cPLA2. The ERK-mediated cPLA2 phosphorylation plays an essential role in its membrane translocation with Rac1, while p38 localization with Rac1 promotes cPLA2 activation and the induction in MMP-9. Moreover, the induction in MMP-9 secretion by the LPS and the modulatory influence of peptide hormone, ghrelin, occur at the level of MMP-9 processing between ER and Golgi, with the involvement of factors that control secretory cargo sorting, Arf1 GTPase and PKD2. The secretion of MMP-9, furthermore, occurs in concert with the changes in stability dynamics of microtubules (MTs), which affect the Golgi localization of Arf1 and the recruitment and activation of PKD2. The induction in MMP-9 secretion by LPS is accompanied by the enhancement in MT stabilization and α-tubulin phosphorylation on Ser, while the MT destabilization associated with the modulatory influence of ghrelin, is manifested by α-tubulin phosphorylation on Tyr. Thus, the factors capable of affecting MT dynamics and MMP-9 secretion present a tempting target for the therapeutic intervention in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.

Proinflammatory Signaling Cascades of Periodontopathic Oral Pathogen <i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i>

Porphyromonas gingivalis, is the most prominent member of the bacteria flora associated with pathogenesis of periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease resulting in tooth loss. The extent of oral mucosal reaction to P. gingivalis invasion relays heavily on Toll-like receptors (TLRs) that recognize structurally common motifs of pathogens and initiate antibacterial responses. Among the virulence factors of P. gingivalis implicated in TLRs activation and triggering inflammatory responses leading to the development of periodontitis is the bacterium cell-wall lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The engagement by the LPS of oral mucosal TLR4 leads to initiation of signaling events characterized by the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and IκB-kinase complex (IKK) cascades, induction of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC)/protein kinase C (PKC)/PI3K pathway, up-regulation in TGF-α ectodomain shedding and EGFR transactivation, and the amplification of proinflammatory signals by spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk). These events, in turn, exert their control over transcription factors implicated in the induction of the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) genes that lead to up-regulation in the inflammatory mediators, PGE2 and NO. The systems involved in transcription factors activation, furthermore, remain under additional regulatory control through S-nitrosylation. Moreover, the LPS-induced TLR4 activation provides a docking site for Syk, the activation of which leads to amplification of the inflammatory signals by affecting transcription factors activation and their assembly to transcriptional complexes. Interestingly, the extent of oral mucosal inflammatory response to P. gingivalis remains under modulatory influence by two biologically active peptide hormones, leptin and ghrelin. Therefore, the presence of these multifunctional peptides in oral mucosa and saliva may be of significance in countering the destructive consequences of P. gingivalis—induced chronic mucosal inflammation that characterizes periodontitis.

<i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i>-Induced GEF Dock180 Activation by Src/PKC<i>δ</i>-Dependent Phosphorylation Mediates PLC<i>γ</i>2 Amplification in Salivary Gland Acinar Cells: Modulatory Effect of Ghrelin

Phospholipase Cγ2 (PLCγ2) plays a pivotal role in mediation of inflammatory reaction to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as well as serves as a key target in modulatory influence of the hormone ghrelin. Here we explore the involvement of Rac1 and its activator, guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), Dock180, in mediation of PLCγ2 activation in salivary gland acinar cells in response to P. gingivalis LPS and ghrelin. We show that stimulation of the acinar cells with the LPS leads to up-regulation in Dock and PLCγ2 activation, and is reflected in the membrane translocation of Rac1 and PLCγ2, while the effect of ghrelin is manifested by the suppression in Rac1 translocation. Further, we reveal that stimulation with the LPS leads to Dock180 phosphorylation on Tyr and Ser, while the modulatory influence of ghrelin, manifested by a drop in membrane Rac1-GTP, is asso-ciated with a distinct decrease in Dock180 phosphorylation on Ser. Moreover, we demonstrate that phosphorylation on Tyr remains under the control of Src kinase and is accompanied by Dock180 membrane translocation, while protein kinase Cδ(PKCδ) is involved in the LPS-induced phosphorylation of the membrane-recruited Dock180 on Ser. Thus, our findings underscore the role of Src/PKCδ-mediated GEF Dock180 phosphorylation on Tyr/Ser in modulation of salivary gland acinar cell PLCγ2 activation in response to P. gingivalis as well as ghrelin.