RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Serum amyloid A (SAA) has been identified to trigger inflammation response, and play a crucial role in chronic inflammatory diseases. However, the regulatory mechanism of SAA still remains unclear during the development of periodontitis METHODS: SAA mRNA and protein expression were detected in healthy and inflammatory gingival tissues using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry. Human recombinant SAA (Apo-SAA), Pam3CSK4 (a Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 ligand), siRNA-SAA, or TLR2 neutralizing antibody was applied to treat human gingival fibroblasts, respectively, or combined. SAA, TLRs, and inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 were analyzed by real-time PCR, western blotting, or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: SAA expression increased in human inflammatory gingival tissues from patients with periodontitis (P <0.05). Apo-SAA could increase not only the mRNA expression of TLR2 (P <0.05), but also IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA and protein levels (P <0.05) which was suppressed by TLR2 antibody in human gingival fibroblasts. Pam3CSK4 increased SAA, IL-6, and IL-8 levels (P <0.05). However, the expression of SAA, IL-6, and IL-8 decreased after transfection of siRNA-SAA (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: SAA not only increases in inflammatory gingiva, but also triggers inflammatory cytokine secretion via interacting with TLR2 pathway in human gingival fibroblasts, which indicates that SAA is involved in periodontal inflammation.