title: The novel role of HtrA1 in gingivitis, chronic and aggressive periodontitis.
abstract: Proteolytic tissue degradation is a typical phenomenon in inflammatory periodontal diseases. HtrA1 (High temperature requirement A 1) has a serine protease activity and is able to degrade fibronectin whose fragments induce the expression and secretion of several matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The aim of this study was to investigate for the first time if HtrA1 has a role in gingivitis and in generalized forms of chronic and aggressive periodontitis. Expression of HtrA1 was investigated in 16 clinically healthy gingiva, 16 gingivitis, 14 generalized chronic periodontitis and 10 generalized aggressive periodontitis by immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR. Statistical comparisons were performed by the Kruskall-Wallis test. Significantly higher levels of HtrA1 mRNA and protein expression were observed in pathological respect to healthy tissues. In particular, we detected an increase of plasma cell HtrA1 immunostaining from gingivitis to chronic and aggressive periodontitis, with the higher intensity in aggressive disease. In addition, we observed the presence of HtrA1 in normal and pathological epithelium, with an increased expression, particularly in its superficial layer, associated with increasingly severe forms of periodontal disease. We can affirm that HtrA1 expression in plasma cells could be correlated with the destruction of pathological periodontal tissue, probably due to its ability to trigger the overproduction of MMPs and to increase the inflammatory mediators TNF-α and IL-1β by inhibition of TGF-β. Moreover, epithelial HtrA1 immunostaining suggests a participation of the molecule in the host inflammatory immune responses necessary for the control of periodontal infection.
authors: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Lorenzi
authors: Department of Histology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Romania.
authors: Elena Annabel
authors: EA
authors: Niţulescu
authors: Pathological Anatomy, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, United Hospitals, Ancona, Italy.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Zizzi
authors: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Lorenzi
authors: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Paolinelli
authors: Department of Clinical Specialistic and Dental Sciences, Periodontology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors: Simone Domenico
authors: SD
authors: Aspriello
authors: Department of Histology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Romania.
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Baniţă
authors: Department of Histology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Romania.
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Crăiţoiu
authors: Pathological Anatomy, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, United Hospitals, Ancona, Italy.
authors: Gaia
authors: G
authors: Goteri
authors: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Barbatelli
authors: Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Division of Stomatology and Oral Surgery, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Tommaso
authors: T
authors: Lombardi
authors: Private Dental Practice, San Benedetto del Tronto, Ascoli Piceno, Italy.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Di Felice
authors: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Marzioni
authors: Pathological Anatomy, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, United Hospitals, Ancona, Italy.
authors: Corrado
authors: C
authors: Rubini
authors: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Castellucci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000074289:High-Temperature Requirement A Serine Peptidase 1; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000074289:High-Temperature Requirement A Serine Peptidase 1; C474012:HTRA1 protein, human; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases