C/EBPß and YY1 bind and interact with Smad3 to modulate lipopolysaccharide-induced amelotin gene transcription in mouse gingival epithelial cells.

Junctional epithelium (JE) develops from reduced enamel epithelium during tooth formation and is critical for the maintenance of healthy periodontal tissue through ensuring appropriate immune responses and the rapid turnover of gingival epithelial cells. We have previously shown a relationship between inflammatory cytokines and expression of JE-specific genes, such as amelotin (AMTN), in gingival epithelial cells. Here, we elucidated the effects of Porphyromonas gingivalis-derived lipopolysaccharide (Pg LPS) on Amtn gene transcription and the interaction of transcription factors. To determine the molecular basis of transcriptional regulation of the Amtn gene by Pg LPS, we performed real-time PCR and carried out luciferase assays using a mouse Amtn gene promoter linked to a luciferase reporter gene in mouse gingival epithelial GE1 cells. Gel mobility shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were performed to identify response elements bound to LPS-induced transcription factors. Next, we analyzed protein levels of the LPS-induced transcription factors and the interaction of transcription factors by western blotting and immunoprecipitation. LPS increased Amtn mRNA levels and elevated luciferase activities of constructs containing regions between -116 and -238 of the mouse Amtn gene promoter. CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) 1-, C/EBP2- and Ying Yang 1 (YY1)-nuclear protein complexes were increased by LPS treatment. Furthermore, we identified LPS-modulated interactions with C/EBPß, YY1 and Smad3. These results demonstrate that Pg LPS regulates Amtn gene transcription via binding of C/EBPß-Smad3 and YY1-Smad3 complexes to C/EBP1, C/EBP2 and YY1 response elements in the mouse Amtn gene promoter.

Cynaropicrin from Cynara scolymus L. suppresses Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS-induced production of inflammatory cytokines in human gingival fibroblasts and RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in RAW264.7 cells.

Periodontal diseases are a major public health problem affecting over half of the adult population worldwide. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) produced by the periodontopathic bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis induces the expression of inflammatory cytokines that promote inflammatory bone destruction. Mounting evidence supports that periodontal diseases are involved in the onset and progression of several systemic diseases, such as aspiration pneumonia and diabetes. Although treatment of periodontal diseases by removing the periodontopathic bacteria by brushing is a standard practice, it has limitations and is not effective in all cases. Therefore, a new method to replace or complement brushing is needed for the treatment of periodontal diseases. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of an extract from Cynara scolymus L. and its pharmacologically effective compound cynaropicrin, a sesquiterpene lactone, on human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) stimulated by LPS and the potential anti-osteoclastogenic effects on RAW264.7 cells induced by receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL). We found that cynaropicrin inhibited IL-8 and IL-6 mRNA and protein synthesis in LPS-stimulated HGFs in a dose-dependent manner. P. gingivalis LPS-induced degradation of IκBα and phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 were also suppressed by cynaropicrin, as was LPS-stimulated NF-κB transactivation. Thus, cynaropicrin's inhibition of P. gingivalis LPS-induced IL-8 and IL-6 expression may be due to the inhibition of the NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, we showed that cynaropicrin dramatically reduced RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation. These results suggest that cynaropicrin may be useful for preventing periodontal diseases and could prove valuable in the development of more effective preventative approaches for periodontal diseases.

Effects of interleukin-1ß on human follicular dendritic cell-secreted protein gene expression in periodontal ligament cells.

Follicular dendritic cell-secreted protein (FDC-SP) is expressed in FDCs, human periodontal ligament (HPL) cells, and junctional epithelium. To evaluate the effects of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) on FDC-SP gene expression in immortalized HPL cells, FDC-SP mRNA and protein levels in HPL cells following stimulation by IL-1ß were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Luciferase (LUC), gel mobility shift, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analyses were performed to study the interaction between transcription factors and promoter regions in the human FDC-SP gene. IL-1ß (1 ng/mL) induced the expression of FDC-SP mRNA and protein levels at 3 h, and reached maximum levels at 12 h. IL-1ß increased LUC activities of constructs (-116FDCSP - -948FDCSP) including the FDC-SP gene promoter. Transcriptional inductions by IL-1ß were partially inhibited by 3-base-pair (3-bp) mutations in the Yin Yang 1 (YY1), GATA, CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein2 (C/EBP2), or C/EBP3 in the -345FDCSP. IL-1ß-induced -345FDCSP activities were inhibited by protein kinase A, tyrosine-kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)1/2, and PI3-kinase inhibitors. The results of gel shift and ChIP assays revealed that YY1, GATA, and C/EBP-ß interacted with the YY1, GATA, C/EBP2, and C/EBP3 elements that were increased by IL-1ß. These studies demonstrate that IL-1ß increases FDC-SP gene transcription in HPL cells by targeting YY1, GATA, C/EBP2, and C/EBP3 in the human FDC-SP gene promoter.

IL-1ß and TNF-α regulate mouse amelotin gene transcription in gingival epithelial cells.

Amelotin (AMTN) is an enamel protein expressed in maturation-stage ameloblasts and junctional epithelium. To clarify the transcriptional regulation of the AMTN gene by interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), we conducted real-time PCR, Western blotting, transient transfection analyses with luciferase constructs including various lengths of the mouse AMTN gene promoter, and gel shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays using mouse gingival epithelial GE1 cells. The levels of AMTN mRNA and protein in GE1 cells were increased after 6 h of stimulation with IL-1ß (1 ng/mL) and TNF-α (10 ng/mL). IL-1ß and TNF-α induced luciferase activities of the constructs between -116AMTN and -705AMTN including the mouse AMTN gene promoter. Transcriptional activation by IL-1ß and TNF-α was partially inhibited in -460AMTN including 3-bp mutations in the CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein 1 (C/EBP1), C/EBP2 and Yin Yang 1 (YY1) elements. Transcriptional activities induced by IL-1ß and TNF-α were inhibited by tyrosine kinase, MEK1/2 and PI3-kinase inhibitors. Results of ChIP assays showed that IL-1ß and TNF-α increased C/EBPß and YY1 binding to the C/EBP1, C/EBP2 and YY1 elements. These results demonstrate that IL-1ß and TNF-α increase AMTN gene transcription via the C/EBP1, C/EBP2 and YY1 elements in the mouse AMTN gene promoter.

Tumor necrosis factor-α regulates human follicular dendritic cell-secreted protein gene transcription in gingival epithelial cells.

Follicular dendritic cell-secreted protein (FDC-SP) is a secreted protein expressed in follicular dendritic cells, periodontal ligament and junctional epithelium. To elucidate the transcriptional regulation of the human FDC-SP gene by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), we conducted real-time PCR, Western blotting, transient transfection analyses with chimeric constructs of the FDC-SP gene promoter linked to a luciferase reporter gene, gel mobility shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays using Ca9-22 gingival epithelial cells. TNF-α (10 ng/ml) induced FDC-SP mRNA and protein levels at 3 hr and reached maximum at 12 hr. In transient transfection assays, TNF-α (12 hr) increased the LUC activities of constructs between -116FDCSP and -948FDCSP including the human FDC-SP gene promoter. Transcriptional stimulations by TNF-α were partially inhibited in the -345FDCSP constructs that included 3-bp mutations in the YY1, GATA, CCAAT enhancer-binding protein 2 (C/EBP2) and C/EBP3. Transcriptional activities induced by TNF-α were inhibited by tyrosine kinase, MEK1/2 and phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitors. The results of ChIP assays showed that YY1, GATA and C/EBPß transcription factors interacted with the YY1, GATA, C/EBP2 and C/EBP3 elements that were increased by TNF-α. These studies show that TNF-α stimulates human FDC-SP gene transcription by targeting YY1, GATA, C/EBP2 and C/EBP3 in the FDC-SP gene promoter.

Transcriptional regulation of bone sialoprotein gene by CO(2) laser irradiation.

Bone sialoprotein (BSP), an early marker of osteoblast differentiation, has been implicated in the nucleation of hydroxyapatite during de novo bone formation. Low-power laser irradiation has a stimulating effect on cells and tissues. Although the carbon dioxide (CO(2)) laser is a hard surgical laser, we have attempted to use it at low energy density to achieve biological alterations. To investigate the effects of CO(2) laser irradiation on BSP gene transcription, we used rat osteoblast-like ROS17/2.8 cells. BSP mRNA levels were increased at 12 h after irradiation with the CO(2) laser (2 W, 20 s). Transient transfection assays using various sizes of the rat BSP gene promoter linked to the luciferase reporter gene showed that CO(2) laser irradiation induced luciferase activity of a -116 to +60 BSP promoter construct (pLUC3) at 12 h in the cells. Transcriptional stimulation by CO(2) laser irradiation was abrogated in the pLUC3 construct containing a 2-bp mutation in the fibroblast growth factor 2 response element (FRE). Gel shift analyses showed that CO(2) laser irradiation increased the binding of nuclear protein to FRE. These studies demonstrate that CO(2) laser irradiation increases BSP transcription via FRE in the rat BSP gene promoter.