ISSN:
1600-0765
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Background: Human bikunin, a Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitor, inhibits inflammation by down-regulating the expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in tumor cells and inflammatory cells.Objectives: We analyzed the effect of a soybean-derived Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI) on TNF-α production in human gingival fibroblasts stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an inflammatory inducer.Material and methods: Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation and cytokine levels were monitored using western blot and a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results: Here, we show (i) a soybean KTI abrogates LPS-induced up-regulation of TNF-α mRNA and protein expression in a dose-dependent manner in gingival fibroblasts, (ii) KTI also blocks the induction of TNF-α target molecules interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6 proteins, (iii) inhibition by KTI of TNF-α induction correlates with the suppressive capacity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 signaling pathways, implicating repressed ERK1/2 and p38 signalings in the inhibition, and (iv) pretreatment of cells with KTI blocked LPS-induced nuclear factor κB (NFκB) activation.Conclusion: Our results indicate that KTI inhibits LPS-induced up-regulation of cytokine expression possibly through suppression of ERK1/2 and p38 kinase-mediated NFκB activation. These findings may identify anti-inflammatory properties of KTI at the level of gingival fibroblasts and may be relevant to the use of KTI in modulating inflammation, including periodontal disease.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0765.2005.00824.x
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