The Role of Toll-like Receptors and NOD-like Receptors in the Pathogenesis of Periodontitis
Date Issued
2009
Date
2009
Author(s)
Chen, Yen-Chun
Abstract
Epithelial cells are the first line of defense against the invasion of microbes into our body. For the identification of various pattern recognition receptors (PRR) in epithelial cells, they can participate and influence the immune responses to pathogens in addition to acting as physical barriers. Junctional epithelium is one of the earliest cells facing the periodontal pathogens in the periodontium. However, there are few literatures discussing the expression of PRRs in the junctional epithelium the their role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Therefore, we attempted to explore the expression and distribution of Toll-like Receptors (TLR) and NOD-like Receptors (NLR) in gingival tissues and analyzed their correlation with the occurrence of periodontitis. In this study, we used immunohistochemical staining of cytokeratin 19 (CK19) to differentiate between junctional epithelium (CK19 positive) and oral epithelium (CK19 negative). Then we analyzed the expression of TLR4, TLR9, NALP1, and NALP3 in human gingivitis and periodontitis tissue samples. TLR4 and TLR9 are expressed in basal cell layers of gingival epithelium. Stronger expression of TLR4 and TLR9 was seen in junctional epithelium of periodontitis tissue samples, in accordance to higher percentage of junctional epithelial cells with nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kB p65 (NF-kB p65) in them. NALP3 is expressed in intermediate and superficial layers of oral epithelium and in junctional epithelium in both gingivitis and periodontitis tissue samples. NALP1 is not expressed in gingival epithelium, Our results demonstrate that each PRR shows different topology in gingival epithelium and they may operate in tissue homeostasis and inflammation. Further study is needed to clarify the role of TLRs in junctional epithelium in the pathogenesis of periodontitis.
Subjects
periodontitis
epithelial cell
TLR
NALP
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