Porphyromonas gingivalis, one of the major periodontal pathogens, is implicated in the initiation and progression of periodontal disease. The initial stages of periodontal inflammation are accompanied by vascular hyperpermeability. In our present study, we report that the P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increases the mRNA expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8), a major inducer of vascular permeability, in vascular endothelial cells. P. gingivalis LPS also stimulated the induction of IL-8 secretion in endothelial cells. The P. gingivalis LPS-induced expression of IL-8 was primarily modulated by nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). P. gingivalis LPS significantly enhanced the vascular permeability both in vitro and in vivo, and a blockade of the IL-8 receptor decreased the P. gingivalis LPS-induced vascular permeability. Taken together, these results suggest that P. gingivalis LPS increases vascular permeability through the NF-κB-dependent production of IL-8 in vascular endothelial cells.

• Moon-Kyoung Bae(Department of Oral Physiology) Corresponding author
• Su-Ryun Kim(Department of Oral Physiology) co-first authors
• Seong-Kyoon Jeong(Department of Oral Physiology) co-first authors
• Woo-Sik Kim(Department of Oral Physiology)
• Hwa-Jin Jeon(Department of Oral Physiology)
• Hyun-Joo Park(Department of Oral Physiology)
• Mi-Kyoung Kim(Department of Oral Physiology)
• Hye-Ock Jang(Department of Dental Pharmacology, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University)
• Il Yun(Department of Dental Pharmacology, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University)
• Soo-Kyung Bae(Department of Dental Pharmacology, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University)