Expression of autophagy-associated protein light chain 3B in human pulpitis and periapical periodontitis / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Role of autophagy in pulpitis, periapical periodontitis and alveolar bone destruction and the underling mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of autophagy-related protein light chain 3B in human pulpitis and periapical periodontitis, in order to explore the rule of autophagy. METHODS: The healthy first premolar or surgically removed third premolar was selected from the patients undergoing orthodontics after their consent informs. The dental pulp cells were treated with 1 mg/L lipopolysaccharide for 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours to induce inflammation. The expression of light chain 3B in normal and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated dental pulp cells was detected by western blot assay. The dotted accumulation of light chain 3B was observed by immunofluorescence. The expression level of light chain 3B in specimens of human chronic periapical periodontitis tissues was tested by real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The expression of light chain 3B in dental pulp cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide for 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours was higher than that in normal dental pulp cells. The expression of light chain 3B increased with time, and peaked at 24 hours. Dotted accumulation of light chain 3B increased with lipopolysaccharide simulation time prolonged. The expression level of light chain 3B in specimens of human chronic periapical periodontitis tissues was higher than that in normal periapical tissues. These results indicate that the expression of light chain 3B is increased in human pulpitis and periapical periodontitis, and morphology also shows an increase of autophagy, suggesting that autophagy may be associated with the occurrence and development of pulpitis and periapical periodontitis.