Objective: To investigate into the signaling pathway of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) on cytokine expression in human dental pulp cells (HDPC).
Methods: Anaerobic method was employed to culture P. gingivalis, and then HDPC were intracellularly infected by P. gingivalis. The extraction of total RNA, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for mRNA expression of Nods and Rip2, protein secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6).
Results: HDPC expressed Nods, Rip2 mRNA and IL-6. The up-regulation of Nods and Rip2 mRNA started after P. gingivalis infection, reached maximal level at 2 h, and then decreased at 6 h; whereas elevated IL-6 was found when P. gingivalis infected.
Conclusion: P. gingivalis activate host innate immune responses in HDPC, and induce IL-6 production through Nod/Rip2-mediated signaling pathway.