title: In vitro effects of polyamines on polymorphonuclear cell apoptosis and implications in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease.
abstract: Apoptosis provides a mechanism for clearance of unwanted cells in a variety of situations in which programmed or physiological cell death occurs; but the premature death of defensive cells could promote infection, inflammation and concomitant diseases. Polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) of gingival sulcus play an important role in host defense against periodontal tissue-invading bacteria, but their phagocytic activity is conditioned by several virulence factors released by oral pathogens. Polyamines derived from oral bacteria frequently occur at concentrations approaching 1 mM in gingival fluid at diseased periodontal sites. Brief exposure of PMN to polyamines shortened the lag culture time required to observe microscopical or DNA fragmentation traces. Increase of Fas/Apo-1 expression and caspase-8 and caspase-3 activation focused two typical steps in the pathway of the pro-apoptotic mechanism exhibited by polyamines, even if to a different extent: spermine > spermidine > putrescine. The possible role played by polyamines in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease by dysregulating apoptosis of gingival PMN is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Oncologia Umana, Sezione di Patologia Generale e Oncologia Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mariggiò
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vinella
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pasquetto
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Curci
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cassano
authors.forename: Ruggiero
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fumarulo
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D011073:Polyamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011700:Putrescine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013095:Spermidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013096:Spermine / Q000494:pharmacology; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007211:Indoles; D011073:Polyamines; D019014:fas Receptor; D013096:Spermine; C007293:DAPI; D004247:DNA; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8; D020169:Caspases; D013095:Spermidine; D011700:Putrescine