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Treponema denticola suppresses expression of human β-defensin-2 in gingival epithelial cells through inhibition of TNFα production and TLR2 activation

Molecules and Cells volume 29, pages 407–412 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

We previously reported that Treponema denticola, a periodontal pathogen, suppressed the expression of human β-defensins (HBDs) and IL-8 in human gingival epithelial cells. To clarify the receptor(s) involved in the suppression of HBD-2, immortalized gingival epithelial (HOK-16B) cells were infected with live or heat-killed T. denticola for 24 h, and the expression of HBD-2 was examined by real-time RT-PCR. Live T. denticola, but not heat-killed bacteria, suppressed the expression of HBD-2 about 40%. Time courses of suppression revealed that T. denticola suppressed HBD-2 expression only at late time points, which was accompanied with the suppression of TNFα production. Neutralization of TNFα with an antibody abrogated the suppressive effect of T. denticola on HBD-2. Accordingly, heat-killed T. denticola did not suppress TNFα production. Knock-down of toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 via RNA interference reversed the suppressive effect of T. denticola on the expression of HBD-3, but not on the production of TNFα. Collectively, T. denticola suppresses the expression of HBD-2 in gingival epithelial cells by inhibiting the TLR2 axis and TNFα production, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of periodontitis by T. denticola.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Oromaxillofacial Infection and Immunity, Brain Korea 21 CLS, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, 110-749, Korea

    Ji Eun Shin & Youngnim Choi

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  1. Ji Eun Shin
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  2. Youngnim Choi
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Correspondence to Youngnim Choi.

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Shin, J.E., Choi, Y. Treponema denticola suppresses expression of human β-defensin-2 in gingival epithelial cells through inhibition of TNFα production and TLR2 activation. Mol Cells 29, 407–412 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10059-010-0048-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10059-010-0048-5

Keywords

  • gingival epithelium
  • human beta-defensin-2
  • TLR2
  • TNFα
  • Treponema denticola