RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induce the production of proinflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). Zingiber cassumunar is a medicinal plant that possesses anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the Z. cassumunar extract on the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, COX-2 and MMP-2 in HGFs challenged with LPS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: HGFs were treated with LPS in the presence or absence of Z. cassumunar extracts. The levels of expression of COX-1, COX-2 and MMP-2 mRNAs and of COX-1, COX-2 and MMP-2 proteins were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. MMP-2 activities in cell-culture supernatants were determined using gelatin zymography. MAPK activation was evaluated by western blotting. RESULTS: LPS treatment of HGFs resulted in the activation of ERK1/2, p38 and JNK. Z. cassumunar extracts significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and JNK in HGFs stimulated with LPS. A lesser inhibitory effect was observed for the phosphorylation of p38. RT-PCR and western blot analyses showed that Z. cassumunar extracts inhibited the LPS-induced expression of COX-2 mRNA and COX-2 protein, respectively, but not of COX-1 mRNA or COX-1 protein. Pretreatment of HGFs with Z. cassumunar also attenuated the induction of MMP-2 with LPS. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that Z. cassumunar extracts inhibit COX-2 and MMP-2 production by LPS-activated human gingival fibroblasts through blocking the proinflammatory signaling pathway involving ERK1/2, JNK and p38.