ABSTRACT
Cholesterol sulfate is abundant in the human epidermis and is a putative natural ligand for retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor alpha (RORα). Although direct binding of cholesterol sulfate is expected to activate RORα, cholesterol sulfate can also induce RORα expression and increase RORα target gene expression. The purpose of this study was to determine whether cholesterol sulfate induces profilaggrin expression, a precursor of the barrier protein filaggrin in the epidermis, through activation of RORα by directly binding to RORα, or through increased RORα expression. Immunohistochemical and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses showed that RORα was expressed in normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) and that its expression increased during keratinocyte differentiation in parallel with that of profilaggrin and cholesterol sulfotransferase, which catalyzes the synthesis of cholesterol sulfate. Exogenous cholesterol sulfate significantly increased both RORα and profilaggrin expression in NHEKs, whereas no effect on profilaggrin expression was observed in cells in which RORα was knocked down with small interfering RNA (siRNA). Additionally, a luciferase reporter gene assay revealed that exogenous RORα dose-dependently increased the activity of the profilaggrin gene promoter even in the absence of cholesterol sulfate, and that this response involves activator protein-1. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that cholesterol sulfate induces filaggrin expression through increased RORα expression. Further studies are required to fully elucidate the mechanisms involved.
Subject(s)
Cholesterol Esters/metabolism , Epidermis/metabolism , Intermediate Filament Proteins/biosynthesis , Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 1/biosynthesis , Cells, Cultured , Cholesterol Esters/pharmacology , Epidermis/drug effects , Filaggrin Proteins , Gene Knockdown Techniques , Genes, Reporter , Humans , Intermediate Filament Proteins/genetics , Keratinocytes/drug effects , Keratinocytes/metabolism , Luciferases/biosynthesis , Luciferases/genetics , Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 1/genetics , Promoter Regions, Genetic , RNA, Small Interfering/genetics , Sulfotransferases/metabolismABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Genetic polymorphisms for cytokines and their receptors have been proposed as potential markers for periodontal disease. Tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2) is one of the cell surface receptors for TNF-alpha. Recent studies have suggested that TNFR2 gene polymorphism is involved in autoimmune and other diseases. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study is to evaluate whether TNFR2(+587T/G) gene polymorphism is associated with chronic periodontitis (CP). METHODS: One hundred and ninety-six unrelated subjects (age 40-65 years) with different levels of CP were identified according to established criteria, including measurements of probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and alveolar bone loss (BL). All subjects were of Japanese descent and non-smokers. Single nucleotide polymorphism at position +587(T/G) in the TNFR2 gene was detected by a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) method. RESULTS: The frequency and the positivity of the +587G allele were significantly higher in severe CP patients than in controls (p=0.0097; odds ratio=2.61, p=0.0075; odds ratio=3.06). In addition, mean values of PPD, CAL, and BL were significantly higher in the +587G allele positive than in the negative subjects (p=0.035, 0.022, and 0.018, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the TNFR2(+587G) polymorphic allele could be associated with severe CP in Japanese.
Subject(s)
Antigens, CD/genetics , Periodontitis/immunology , Polymorphism, Genetic/genetics , Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor/genetics , Adult , Aged , Alleles , Alveolar Bone Loss/classification , Biomarkers/analysis , Chronic Disease , Female , Guanine , Humans , Japan , Male , Middle Aged , Odds Ratio , Periodontal Attachment Loss/classification , Periodontal Pocket/classification , Periodontitis/classification , Periodontitis/genetics , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics , Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II , ThymineABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Early onset periodontitis (EOP), newly 'aggressive periodontitis', is considered to have genetic basis, which have not been clearly defined. The interleukin-1 (IL-1) gene cluster polymorphism as one of genetic factors may influence the expression of several chronic inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes encoding IL-1alpha, IL-1beta and a variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphisms in the IL-1 receptor antagonist gene (IL-1RN) in 47 generalized EOP (G-EOP) patients and 97 periodontally healthy controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All subjects were of Japanese descent and systemically healthy. They were identified according to established clinical criteria. SNPs in the IL-1alpha (+ 4845) and IL-1beta (- 511, + 3954) genes were analyzed by amplifying the polymorphic region using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by restriction-enzyme digestion and agarose gel electrophoresis. IL-1RN (VNTR) polymorphisms were then detected by PCR amplification and fragment size analysis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the IL-alpha (+ 4845) and IL-1beta (- 511, + 3954) genotypes and allele frequencies between G-EOP patients and healthy controls. However, the frequency of IL-1RN (VNTR) polymorphic alleles was found to be significantly increased in G-EOP patients (chi2 test, P = 0.007; odds ratio = 3.40). Additionally, the carriage rate of IL-1RN (VNTR) polymorphisms was significantly higher in G-EOP patients than in healthy controls (chi2 test, P = 0.005; odds ratio = 3.81). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that IL-1RN (VNTR) polymorphisms are associated with G-EOP in Japanese.
