Periodontal disease is a major oral disorder and comprises a group of infections that lead to inflammation of the gingiva and the destruction of periodontal tissues. PPARy plays an important role in the regulation of several metabolic pathways and has recently been implicated in inflammatory response pathways. However, its effects on periodontal inflammation have yet to be clarified. In our current study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of PPARy on periodontal disease. Human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) showed high levels of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and -9 (MMP-9). Moreover, these cells also showed upregulated activities for extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK1/2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygnase-2. However, cells treated with Ad/PPARy and rosiglitazone in same culture system showed reduced ICAM-1, VCAM-1, MMP-2, -9 and COX-2. Finally, the anti-inflammatory effects of PPARy appear to be mediated via the suppression of the ERK1/2 pathway and consequent inhibition of NF-kB translocation. Our present findings thus suggest that PPARy indeed has a pivotal role in gingival inflammation and may be a putative molecular target for future therapeutic strategies to control chronic periodontal disease.

• Young-Hee Lee(Department of Oral Biochemistry, School of Dentistry and Institute of Oral Bioscience, BK21 Program, Chonbuk National University)
• Dong-Hoon Kwak(Department of Oral Biochemistry, School of Dentistry and Institute of Oral Bioscience, BK21 Program, Chonbuk National University)
• Min-Soo Kang(Department of Oral Biochemistry, School of Dentistry and Institute of Oral Bioscience, BK21 Program, Chonbuk National University)
• Govinda Bhattarai(Department of Oral Biochemistry, School of Dentistry and Institute of Oral Bioscience, BK21 Program, Chonbuk National University)
• Nan-Hee Lee(Department of Oral Biochemistry, School of Dentistry and Institute of Oral Bioscience, BK21 Program, Chonbuk National University)
• Eun-Chung Jhee(Department of Oral Biochemistry, School of Dentistry and Institute of Oral Bioscience, BK21 Program, Chonbuk National University)
• Ho-Keun Yi(Department of Oral Biochemistry, School of Dentistry and Institute of Oral Bioscience, BK21 Program, Chonbuk National University) Corresponding author