Proteolytic activity of Porphyromonas gingivalis attenuates MCP-1 mRNA expression in LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells

- High doses of Porphyromonas gingivalis suppress the mRNA expression of MCP-1 in LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells.
- This inhibitory effect of P. gingivalis appears to be mediated by bacterial proteases.
- Degradation of MCP-1 mRNA in LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells was accelerated in the presence of P. gingivalis.

Bacteria can modulate cytokine production of host cells. In this study, we examined effects of Porphyromonas gingivalis, an important periodontal pathogen, on the cytokine production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated THP-1 macrophagic cells. A wide range of doses of P. gingivalis increased the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production. However, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) production was substantially suppressed by high doses of P. gingivalis and this effect was demonstrated at the mRNA level. Challenges with a congenic protease mutant strain did not significantly attenuate the MCP-1 mRNA expression and addition of leupeptin, a protease inhibitor, to the cultures largely prevented the inhibition of MCP-1 expression by P. gingivalis. Transwell experiments showed that direct contact of P. gingivalis with THP-1 cells was not required for the MCP-1 inhibition. Furthermore, blockade of internalization of P. gingivalis into THP-1 cells had no effect on the MCP-1 inhibition by P. gingivalis. Finally, degradation of MCP-1 mRNA in LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells was accelerated in the presence of P. gingivalis. These results suggest that the proteolytic activity of P. gingivalis attenuate MCP-1 mRNA expression by promoting the decay of MCP-1 mRNA in LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells.