Expression of VLA‐integrins and their related basement membrane ligands in gingiva from patients of various periodontitis categories

Abstract

Periodontitis is characterized by destruction of dento-gingival fibers and apical migration of the junctional epithelium. Tissue destruction may be associated with altered interactions between epithelium and connective tissue mediated by integrins localized in the basement membrane zone. We examined the expression of alpha2beta1, alpha3beta1, alpha4/alpha5/beta1, alpha6beta4 and their related extracellular matrix (ECM) ligands: laminin-1, laminin-5, and collagen type IV in untreated periodontitis sites of various categories. The expression and location of ECM proteins along the basement membrane were found to be similar between clinically healthy and periodontitis affected tissues. However, ECM proteins were more diffusely distributed in connective tissue (CT) of periodontitis tissues as streak-like/ fibrillar/granular stainings, particularly beneath the pocket epithelium (PE) and around the blood vessels. This may reflect an increase in inflammatory cell migration. The more widespread distribution of integrins alpha2beta1, alpha3beta1 in PE of periodontitis specimens may be related to disease activity and increased rate of keratinocyte proliferation and migration. Moreover, the weaker expression of alpha6beta4 in junctional epithelium (JE) of periodontitis affected tissues may be related to the epithelial detachment from the tooth surface. Clarification of expressions of integrins and their ligands in relation to known clinical disease susceptibility factors may provide information on the onset and progression mechanisms of periodontal disease destruction.

In Vivo Localization of Gelatinases (MMP-2 and -9) by in Situ Zymography with a Selective Gelatinase Inhibitor

“…Ln-5 ␥2-chain localized to the basement membrane region underlying the gingival sulcular epithelium and was found to co-localize with MMP-2 within the basement membrane region. Laminin-5 protein and mRNA have been found in the basement membrane region of junctional and gingival epithelium (33,34). However, we describe here, for the first time, specific co-localization of MMP-2 and the ␥2-chain of laminin-5, a proteolytic target for MMP-2, in the basement membrane region at the sites of periodontal inflammation.…”

Calprotectin Expression In Vitro by Oral Epithelial Cells Confers Resistance to Infection byPorphyromonas gingivalis

“…Increased expression of calprotectin and ␣ 3 integrin is also observed in oral and pocket epithelia of periodontitis tissue specimens (9,16,43), suggesting that changes observed in calprotectin transfected cells probably occur in vivo as a response to infection. Indeed, these changes may contribute to reduced P. gingivalis invasion into calprotectin expressing cells.…”

Effects of Fruit and Vegetable Low Molecular Mass Fractions on Gene Expression in Gingival Cells Challenged with Prevotella intermedia and Actinomyces naeslundii

“…Integrins, a component of hemidesmosomes, are heterodimeric transmembrane glycoproteins formed by the noncovalent association of α and β subunits [16]. β 1 and β 4 ( β 4ITG) are also involved in apical migration of junctional epithelium during the periodontal attachment loss [17]. β 4ITG is expressed in the basal side of cells cultured from rat oral epithelium [18].…”