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Prevotella intermedia is an important periodontal pathogen that induces various inflammatory and immune responses. In this study, we investigated the effects of P. intermedia on the plasminogen system in human periodontal ligament (hPDL) cells and explored the signaling pathways involved. Using semi-quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and quantitative real-time RT-qPCR, we demonstrated that P. intermedia challenge increased tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-2 expression in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, but exerted no influence on urokinase-type plasminogen activator and PAI-1mRNA expression in hPDL cells. Prevotella intermedia stimulation also enhanced tPA protein secretion as confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot results revealed that P. intermedia treatment increased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 kinase (p38). ERK, JNK and protein kinase C inhibitors significantly attenuated the P. intermedia-induced tPA and PAI-2 expression. Furthermore, p38 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors markedly decreased PAI-2 expression, whereas they showed no or little inhibition on tPA expression. In contrast, inhibition of protein kinase A greatly enhanced the upregulatory effect of P. intermedia on tPA and PAI-2 expression. Our results suggest that P. intermedia may contribute to periodontal tissue destruction by upregulating tPA and PAI-2 expression in hPDL cells via multiple signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An outer membrane hemoglobin-binding protein of Prevotella intermedia was identified and purified in the present study. Hemoglobin-binding protein was purified via a series of column chromatographic methods. The molecular mass of the purified protein, which was approximately 60 kDa, was determined by SDS–PAGE. Hemoglobin binding of the protein was examined by Western blot and dot blot assays. Hemoglobin-binding activity was pH dependent; the strongest binding activity occurred at pH 5.0. Globin greatly decreased the binding activity, whereas transferrin, cytochrome C, and catalase exerted no effect. Dissociation constant between the 60-kDa protein and hemoglobin was 1.48 × 10-8 M as measured by surface plasmon resonance. These results suggest that P. intermedia binds hemoglobin specifically through the 60-kDa outer membrane protein. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: Melittin is the main peptide in bee venom and causes both persistent spontaneous nociception and pain hypersensitivity. Our recent studies indicated that both transient receptor potential (TRP) vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1) and canonical TRPs (TRPCs) are involved in mediating the melittin-induced activation of different subpopulations of primary nociceptive cells. Here, we further determined whether TRPC channels are involved in melittin-induced inflammatory nociceptive responses in behavioral assays., Methods: The anti-nociceptive and anti-hyperalgesic effects of localized peripheral administration of three doses of the non-selective TRPC antagonist, SKF-96365 (1-{β-[3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propoxy]-4-methoxyphenyl}-1H-imidazole hydrochloride), were evaluated in melittin tests. Pain-related behaviors were rated by counting the number of paw flinches, and measuring paw withdrawal thermal latency (s) and paw withdrawl mechanical threshold (g), over a 1-h time-course., Results: Localized peripheral SKF-96365 given before melittin prevented, and given after melittin significantly suppressed, the melittin-evoked persistent spontaneous nociception. Pre-blockade and post-suppression of activation of primary nociceptive activity resulted in decreased hypersensitivity to both thermal and mechanical stimuli applied to the primary injury site of the ipsilateral hindpaw, despite dose-effect differences between thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia. However, local administration of SKF-96365 into the contralateral hindpaw had no significant effect on any pain-associated behaviors. In addition, SKF-96365 had no effect on baseline threshold for either thermal or mechanical sensitivity under normal conditions., Conclusion: Besides TRPV1, SKF-96365-sensitive TRPC channels might also be involved in the pathophysiological processing of melittin-induced inflammatory pain and hypersensitivity. Therapeutically, SKF-96365 is equally effective in preventing primary thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia as well as persistent spontaneous nociception. However, this drug is likely to be more effective in the relief of thermal hyperalgesia than mechanical hyperalgesia when applied 5 min after establishment of primary afferent activation.

Objective: To investigate the effect of PTEN tumor suppressor gene combined with doxycycline on telomerase activity in human mucoepidermoid carcinoma cell line., Methods: The wild-type PTEN tumor suppressor gene or empty vector was introduced into mucoepidermoid carcinoma cell line in vitro, then the cancer cells were treated with doxycycline. Cancer cell survival was determined by MTT assay. Telomerase activity was determined using telomerase repeat amplification protocol-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (TRAP-ELISA)., Results: Compared to the control cells, cancer cells transfected with the wild-type PTEN gene showed growth inhibition and increased sensitivity to doxycycyline, and the ratio of augment of drug sensitivity was 1.65-4.75. The telomerase activity in cancer cells treared with PTEN gene transfection or doxycycline alone decreased, however, telomerase activity in combined group decreased more remarkably., Conclusion: PTEN gene in combination with doxycycline has significant inhibitory effect on telomerase activity in cancer cells.

Prevotella intermedia, a major periodontal pathogen, plays important roles in the initiation and development of periodontitis by stimulating the release of proinflammatory cytokines, proteinases and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Our previous study demonstrated that P. intermedia induced MMP-9 expression in human periodontal ligament (hPDL) cells. In this study, we examined the effects of P. intermedia on other MMPs' expression. Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR analysis revealed that P. intermedia ATCC 25611 supernatant increased MMP-1 and MMP-8 mRNA expression in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot results confirmed the RT-PCR results at the protein level. Cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin significantly attenuated the upregulatory effects of P. intermedia on MMP-1 and MMP-8 expression. Extracellular signal-related kinase inhibitor PD98059 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor SP600125 considerably decreased the upregulated level of MMP-1, whereas p38 inhibitor SB203580 markedly inhibited MMP-8 expression, suggesting that prostaglandin E(2) and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways are involved in P. intermedia-induced MMP-1 and MMP-8 upregulation. Our results indicate that P. intermedia might contribute to periodontal connective tissue and bone matrix destruction through upregulating MMP production.

We examined the effects of phosphorothioate-modified antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides (PS-ODN) targeted to mRNA transcribed from gtfB, which encodes synthesis of water-insoluble glucans in Streptococcus mutans. Treatment of S. mutans with 10 muM antisense PS-ODNs inhibited gtfB mRNA transcription, GtfB expression and water-insoluble glucan synthesis. The architecture of biofilms formed by antisense PS-ODNs-treated S. mutans showed reduced biomass, more dispersed distribution with enlarged interspaces and fewer layers of attached cells. PS-ODN treatment had no effect on the growth of S. mutans. Our results indicated that it might be feasible to use antisense PS-ODN as a novel agent in caries prevention.