Yoshiaki Fujinami

Aberrant TRPV1 Expression in Heat Hyperalgesia Associated with Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain

Trigeminal neuropathic pain is a facial pain syndrome associated with trigeminal nerve injury. However, the mechanism of trigeminal neuropathic pain is poorly understood. This study aimed to determine the role of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) in heat hyperalgesia in a trigeminal neuropathic pain model. We evaluated nociceptive responses to mechanical and heat stimuli using a partial infraorbital nerve ligation (pIONL) model. Withdrawal responses to mechanical and heat stimuli to vibrissal pads (VP) were assessed using von Frey filaments and a thermal stimulator equipped with a heat probe, respectively. Changes in withdrawal responses were measured after subcutaneous injection of the TRP channel antagonist capsazepine. In addition, the expression of TRPV1 in the trigeminal ganglia was examined. Mechanical allodynia and heat hyperalgesia were observed in VP by pIONL. Capsazepine suppressed heat hyperalgesia but not mechanical allodynia. The number of TRPV1-positive neurons in the trigeminal ganglia was significantly increased in the large-diameter-cell group. These results suggest that TRPV1 plays an important role in the heat hyperalgesia observed in the pIONL model.

Macrolide antibiotics like azithromycin increase lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-8 production by human gingival fibroblasts

ObjectiveMacrolide antibiotics are reported to modulate the production of cytokines in various type of cells. We examined the effect of macrolide antibiotics on inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8) and chemical mediator (PGE2) and also matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) productions by human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).MethodsThe effect of macrolide antibiotics [erythromycin (EM), azithromycin (AZM) and josamycin (JOM)] on HGFs proliferation were examined by MTT assay. HGFs were treated with LPS from Porphyromonas gingivalis (PgLPS) and macrolide antibiotics, and IL-6, IL-8 and PGE2 levels were evaluated by ELISA. MMPs were detected by gelatin zymography.ResultsAZM slightly but significantly decreased HGFs proliferation, while EM and JOM did not affected. AZM increased PgLPS-induced IL-8 production dose-dependently, while AZM did not alter IL-6 and PGE2 productions. EM and JOM did not altered PgLPS-induced IL-6, IL-8 and PGE2 productions. All macrolide antibiotics did not alter MMPs production. These results indicate that macrolide antibiotics have no direct anti-inflammatory effect. However, the use of the inhibitors of cell signaling pathway failed to reveal the mechanism that AZM enhanced PgLPS-induced IL-8 production.ConclusionThese results suggest macrolide antibiotics have an indirect anti-inflammatory effect as a result of their antimicrobial properties. Because AZM increased LPS-induced IL-8 production by HGFs, the possibility is considered that neutrophils may be migrated to periodontal tissue and phagocytize the periodontopathic bacteria more efficiently.

The effects of cigarette exposure on rat salivary proteins and salivary glands

OBJECTIVE Passive smoking is the involuntary inhalation of cigarette smoke (CS) and has an adverse impact on oral health. We examined the effect of CS exposure on saliva and salivary glands (SGs). METHODS Cigarette smoke-exposed rats were intermittently housed in an animal chamber with whole-body exposure to CS until killed. Whole saliva was collected before CS exposure (0 day), and 15 and 30 days after the start of CS exposure. Saliva secretion was stimulated by administration of isoproterenol and pilocarpine after anesthesia. SGs were collected on 31 days. RESULTS The increase in body weight of the CS-exposed rats was less than that of the control rats. Salivary flow rates did not differ at 0, 15 or 30 days after the start of CS exposure. However, the amylase and peroxidase activities and total protein content in the saliva were significantly lower in 15-day CS-exposed rats than in 15-day control rats. Histological examination of the SGs of CS-exposed rats showed vacuolar degeneration, vasodilation and hyperemia. CONCLUSION These results suggest that CS exposure has adverse impacts on salivary composition and SGs, which could aggravate the oral environment.

Protein kinase A enhances lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-6, IL-8, and PGE2 production by human gingival fibroblasts

ObjectivePeriodontal disease is accompanied by inflammation of the gingiva and destruction of periodontal tissues, leading to alveolar bone loss in severe clinical cases. Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and the chemical mediator prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) are known to play important roles in inflammatory responses and tissue degradation.Recently, we reported that the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H-89 suppresses lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IL-8 production by human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). In the present study, the relevance of the PKA activity and two PKA-activating drugs, aminophylline and adrenaline, to LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8) and PGE2 by HGFs were examined.MethodsHGFs were treated with LPS from Porphyromonas gingivalis and H-89, the cAMP analog dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP), aminophylline, or adrenaline. After 24 h, IL-6, IL-8, and PGE2 levels were evaluated by ELISA.ResultsH-89 did not affect LPS-induced IL-6 production, but suppressed IL-8 and PGE2 production. In contrast, dbcAMP significantly increased LPS-induced IL-6, IL-8, and PGE2 production. Up to 10 μg/ml of aminophylline did not affect LPS-induced IL-6, IL-8, or PGE2 production, but they were significantly increased at 100 μg/ml. Similarly, 0.01 μg/ml of adrenaline did not affect LPS-induced IL-6, IL-8, or PGE2 production, but they were significantly increased at concentrations of 0.1 and 1 μg/ml. In the absence of LPS, H-89, dbcAMP, aminophylline, and adrenaline had no relevance to IL-6, IL-8, or PGE2 production.ConclusionThese results suggest that the PKA pathway, and also PKA-activating drugs, enhance LPS-induced IL-6, IL-8, and PGE2 production by HGFs. However, aminophylline may not have an effect on the production of these molecules at concentrations used in clinical settings (8 to 20 μg/ml in serum). These results suggest that aminophylline does not affect inflammatory responses in periodontal disease.

Pharmacological evidences for the stimulation of calcium-sensing receptors by nifedipine in gingival fibroblasts

Objective: To investigate pharmacologically whether CaSRs are involved in the Ca2+ antagonist-induced [Ca2+]i elevation in gingival fibroblasts. Materials and Methods: Gin-1 cells, normal human gingival fibroblasts, were used as the material. The [Ca2+] i was measured with fura-2/AM, a Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye. Results: At first, we confirmed the existence of CaSRs in these cells by showing that [Ca2+] i was elevated by high concentrations of extracellular Ca2+ and by prototypic agonists of the CaSR such as gentamicin. The action of gentamicin was antagonized by inhibitors of phospholipase C (PLC), inositol trisphosphate (IP3) receptors, NSCCs, and, importantly, by the CaSR antagonist, NPS2390. Furthermore, the action of gentamicin was potentiated by activators of PLC and protein kinase C (PKC). This confirmed the pathway components mediating Ca2+ responses to a known agonist of the CaSR. We then investigated whether nifedipine (an L-type Ca2+ channel blocker) stimulates CaSRs to elevate [Ca2+] i via a similar mechanism. Nifedipine Ca2+ responses were dose-dependently blocked by NPS2390 and by the same inhibitors of PLC, IP3 receptors, and NSCCs that disrupted the action of gentamicin. Calphostin C (a PKC inhibitor) and TMB-8 (an inhibitor of Ca2+ release from stores) also inhibited the nifedipine-induced [Ca2+] i elevation. Conclusion: These findings suggest that CaSRs are involved in the nifedipine-induced [Ca2+] i elevation in gingival fibroblasts.

Dental Caries Area of Rat Molar Expanded by Cigarette Smoke Exposure

Objectives: Passive smoking is the involuntary inhalation of cigarette smoke (CS) and has an adverse impact on oral health. We examined the effect of CS exposure on caries risk and experimental dental caries. Methods: Experimental dental caries was induced in rat maxillary molars which were inoculated orally with Streptococcus mutans MT8148 and maintained on a cariogenic diet (diet 2000) and high sucrose water during the experimental period. CS-exposed rats were intermittently housed in an animal chamber with whole-body exposure to CS until killed. Whole saliva was collected before CS exposure (day 0) and for 30 days after the start of CS exposure. Saliva secretion was stimulated by administration of isoproterenol and pilocarpine after anesthesia. Maxillary molars were harvested on day 31. Results: The increase in body weight of the CS-exposed rats was less than that of the control rats. Salivary flow rate, concentration of S. mutans in the stimulated saliva and caries activity score did not significantly differ between 0 and 30 days after the start of CS exposure. Histological examination of the caries-affected area on maxillary molars 30 days after CS exposure showed expansion compared to control rats. In the electron probe microanalysis, no differences were observed between the mineral components of the CS-exposed teeth and the control teeth. Conclusion: These results suggest that CS exposure expands the caries-affected area in the maxillary molars of the rat.