title: Theaflavins inhibit pathogenic properties of P. gingivalis and MMPs production in P. gingivalis-stimulated human gingival fibroblasts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Theaflavins, the main polyphenols in black tea, possesses a wide range of beneficial pharmacological properties. Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is a major aetiological agent associated with periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease affecting tooth-supporting tissues. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of theaflavins on pathogenic properties of P. gingivalis and on periodontitis by inhibiting matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) production induced by this oral pathogen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microplate dilution assays were performed to determine the effect of theaflavins against planktonic culture and biofilm of P. gingivalis. The effect of theaflavins on gingipain and collagenase activities of P. gingivalis was evaluated using synthetic chromogenic peptides and fluorogenic substrate. Human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) were stimulated with P. gingivalis in the presence or absence of theaflavins, and then MMP-1, -2 secretion and their mRNA expression were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time PCR analysis, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Theaflavins exhibited the antimicrobial effects against both planktonic culture and biofilm of P. gingivalis. Theaflavins also markedly inhibited the proteinase activities of P. gingivalis collagenase and gingipains in a dose-dependent manner. Lastly, theaflavins significantly inhibited the secretion and mRNA expression of MMP-1 and MMP-2 by HGFs stimulated with P. gingivalis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Theaflavins can affect the virulent properties of P. gingivalis and attenuate the MMP-mediated inflammatory response induced by this pathogen, which suggests that theaflavins may be potentially valuable supplementary therapeutic agent for prevention and treatment of P. gingivalis-associated periodontal diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Mucosa, Jinan Stomatologic Hospital, No. 101 Jingliu Road, Jinan, Shandong, China; State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Lingxue
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Hebei medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Shiyan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Yafei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: jollyzldoc@163.com.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000187:drug effects; D044946:Biflavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms; D002392:Catechin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000187:drug effects*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D044946:Biflavonoids; C056068:theaflavin; D002392:Catechin; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1
keywords: Gingipain; Human gingival fibroblasts; Matrix metalloproteinases; Periodontal disease; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Theaflavins