title: Vitamin D reduces the inflammatory response by Porphyromonas gingivalis infection by modulating human β-defensin-3 in human gingival epithelium and periodontal ligament cells.
abstract: Periodontitis is a multifactorial polymicrobial infection characterized by a destructive inflammatory process. Porphyromonas gingivalis, a Gram-negative black-pigmented anaerobe, is a major pathogen in the initiation and progression of periodontitis; it produces several virulence factors that stimulate human gingival epithelium (HGE) cells and human periodontal ligament (HPL) cells to produce various inflammatory mediators. A variety of substances, such as vitamin D, have growth-inhibitory effects on some bacterial pathogens and have shown chemo-preventive and anti-inflammatory activity. We used a model with HGE and HPL cells infected with P. gingivalis to determine the influence of vitamin D on P. gingivalis growth and adhesion and the immunomodulatory effect on TNF-α, IL-8, IL-12 and human-β-defensin 3 production. Our results demonstrated, firstly, the lack of any cytotoxic effect on the HGE and HPL cells when treated with vitamin D; in addition, vitamin D inhibited P. gingivalis adhesion and infectivity in HGE and HPL cells. Our study then showed that vitamin D reduced TNF-α, IL-8, IL-12 production in P. gingivalis-infected HGE and HPL cells. In contrast, a significant upregulation of the human-β-defensin 3 expression in HGE and HPL cells induced by P. gingivalis was demonstrated. Our results indicate that vitamin D specifically enhances the production of the human-β-defensin 3 antimicrobial peptide and exerts an inhibitory effect on the pro-inflammatory cytokines, thus suggesting that vitamin D may offer possible therapeutic applications for periodontitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Filippis
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiorentino
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontostomatological, Orthodontic and Surgical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontostomatological, Orthodontic and Surgical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Annunziata
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontostomatological, Orthodontic and Surgical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nastri
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: antonietta.rizzo@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rizzo
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016866:Bacteroidaceae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005881:Gingiva / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000276:immunology*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; C422950:DEFB103A protein, human; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D023083:beta-Defensins; D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: Cytokines; Human β-defensin-3; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Vitamin D