Role of calcineurin in Porphyromonas gingivalis-induced myocardial cell hypertrophy and apoptosis.
OBJECTIVE
Periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) increased cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and apoptosis whereas Actinobaeillus actinomycetemcomitans and Prevotella intermedia had no effects. The purpose of this study is to clarify the role of calcineurin signaling pathway in P. gingivalis-induced H9c2 myocardial cell hypertrophy and apoptosis.


METHODS
DNA fragmentation, nuclear condensation, cellular morphology, calcineurin protein, Bcl2-associated death promoter (Bad) and nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFAT)-3 protein products in cultured H9c2 myocardial cell were measured by agarose gel electrophoresis, DAPI, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting following P. gingivalis and/or pre-administration of CsA (calcineurin inhibitors cyclosporin A).


RESULTS
P. gingivalis not only increased calcineurin protein, NFAT-3 protein products and cellular hypertrophy, but also increased DNA fragmentation, nuclear condensation and Bad protein products in H9c2 cells. The increased cellular sizes, DNA fragmentation, nuclear condensation, and Bad of H9c2 cells treated with P. gingivalis were all significantly reduced after pre-administration of CsA.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that the activity of calcineurin signal pathway may be initiated by P. gingivalis and further lead to cell hypertrophy and death in culture H9c2 myocardial cells.
Lee
Shin-Da
SD
School of Physical Therapy, Chung-Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Kuo
Wei-Wen
WW
Lin
Ding-Yu
DY
Chen
Ter-Hsin
TH
Kuo
Wu-Hsien
WH
Hsu
Hsi-Hsien
HH
Chen
Jian-Zhi
JZ
Liu
Jer-Yuh
JY
Yeh
Yu-Lan
YL
Huang
Chih-Yang
CY
D017209:Apoptosis; D016866:Bacteroidaceae Infections / Q000473:pathology; D019703:Calcineurin / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000382:microbiology*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis; D015854:Up-Regulation; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein
C494819:BAD protein, human; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein; D016572:Cyclosporine; D019703:Calcineurin