Effect of black-pigmented bacteria on the plasminogen-plasmin system in human pulp and osteoblastic cells

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2003 May;95(5):621-5. doi: 10.1067/moe.2003.91.

Abstract

Objective: To date, there have been relatively few studies addressing the presence and expression of the plasminogen-plasmin system at the site of bacterial infection. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of black-pigmented bacteria on the expression of the plasminogen-plasmin system in human pulp and osteoblastic cells.

Study design: The supernatants of Porphyromonas endodontalis, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Prevotella intermedia were used to evaluate tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) gene expression in human pulp and osteoblastic cells. The levels of mRNA were quantitatively measured by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

Results: In this study, black-pigmented bacteria induced not only t-PA but also PAI-1 gene expression in human pulp and osteoblastic cells. In addition, the ratio of t-PA to PAI-1 was higher in human pulp and osteoblastic cells stimulated by black-pigmented bacteria than in untreated cell cultures (P <.05).

Conclusions: A fine balance exists in the expression of components of the plasminogen-plasmin system, whereby tissue homeostasis is maintained. Black-pigmented bacteria activate the activator-inhibitor system in human pulp and osteoblastic cells through unbalance regulation of t-PA and PAI-1, which might result in an uncontrolled degradation of pulpal and periapical tissues.

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Dental Pulp / metabolism*
  • Fibrinolysin / analysis
  • Fibrinolysin / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / genetics
  • Humans
  • Osteoblasts / metabolism*
  • Plasminogen / analysis
  • Plasminogen / genetics
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / analysis
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / genetics*
  • Plasminogen Activators / analysis
  • Plasminogen Activators / genetics*
  • Porphyromonas / genetics*
  • Porphyromonas gingivalis / genetics*
  • Prevotella intermedia / genetics*
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator / analysis
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator / genetics*

Substances

  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Plasminogen
  • Plasminogen Activators
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator
  • Fibrinolysin