Odontogenic infection by Porphyromonas gingivalis exacerbates fibrosis in NASH via hepatic stellate cell activation

Sci Rep. 2020 Mar 5;10(1):4134. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-60904-8.

Abstract

Odontogenic infection of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g.), a major periodontal pathogen, exacerbates pathological progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In this study, we aimed to clarify the detailed mechanism in which P.g. induced hepatic stellate cells (HSCs; key effector cells in liver fibrosis) activation. In the liver of high fat diet-induced NASH mouse model with P.g. odontogenic infection, immunolocalization of P.g. was detected. The number of hepatic crown-like structure, which was macrophage aggregation and related to liver fibrosis, was drastically increased and fibrosis area was also increased through upregulating immunoexpression of Phosphorylated Smad2 (key signaling molecule of TGF-β1) and Galectin-3. P.g.-secreted trypsin-like enzyme [gingipain; an activator of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2)] stimulated HSC proliferation and differentiation through Smad and ERK signaling induced by TGF-β1 produced from HSCs with P.g.-infection. Further, Galectin-3 produced from HSCs with P.g. infection and P.g.-derived LPS/lipoprotein stimulation stabilized TGFβ-receptor II resulting in increasing sensitivity for TGF-β1, finally leading to HSC differentiation via activating Smad and ERK signaling. In addition to them, hepatocytes (main component cells of liver) contributed to HSC activation through TGF-β1 and Galectin-3 production in paracrine manner. Collectively, P.g.-odontogenic infection exacerbates fibrosis of NASH by HSC activation through TGF-β1 and Gal-3 production from HSCs and hepatocytes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation / physiology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Granuloma / metabolism
  • Granuloma / microbiology
  • Hepatic Stellate Cells / metabolism
  • Hepatic Stellate Cells / microbiology
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Liver Cirrhosis / metabolism
  • Liver Cirrhosis / microbiology*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / pathology*
  • Mice
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / metabolism
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / microbiology*
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / pathology*
  • Porphyromonas gingivalis / pathogenicity*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1