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Journal of Central South University Medical Sciences logoLink to Journal of Central South University Medical Sciences
. 2021 Mar 28;46(3):227–233. [Article in Chinese] doi: 10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2021.190661

虾青素抑制脂多糖诱导人牙周膜细胞炎症反应

Astaxanthin inhibits inflammation of human periodontal ligament cells induced by lipopolysaccharide

XIE Congman 1,2,2, LIN Min 1,2, TIAN Haonan 1,2, ZHANG Lin 1,3, REN Aishu 1,3,
Editor: 郭 征
PMCID: PMC10929925  PMID: 33927068

Abstract

Objective

Human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) are important source of periodontal tissue reconstruction. Under chronic inflammation, the multi-directional differentiation potential and chemotaxis in hPDLCs are decreased. Therefore, inhibiting inflammatory microenvironment and improving the functional characteristics of stem cells can better promote periodontal tissue reconstruction. This study was to investigate the effect of astaxanthin (AST) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in hPDLCs and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

hPDLCs were isolated and cultured in vitro, and vimentin and keratin immunocytochemical staining were used to identify hPDLCs. CCK-8 assay was used to measure the effects of AST (1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 μmol/L) on proliferation of hPDLCs. Quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) and ELISA were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression of inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α) in the control (Con) group, the LPS group, and the LPS+AST (5, 10, 20, and 50 μmol/L) group. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of IKBα, phosphorylated IKBα (p-IKBα), and p65 in the Con group, the LPS group, the AST (20 μmol/L) group, and the LPS+AST (20 μmol/L) group. After 10 μmol/L PDTC treatment, the mRNA and protein expressions of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α were detected by RT-qPCR and ELISA.

Results

Cell morphology and immunocytochemical staining showed that the cells were in line with the characteristics of hPDLCs. Treatment with AST could promote the proliferation of hPDLCs, which reached the peak at 20 μmol/L. The mRNA and protein expressions of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the LPS group were higher than those in the Con group (all P<0.05). Compared with the LPS group, the mRNA and protein expressions of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the LPS+AST (5, 10, 20, and 50 μmol/L) group were down-regulated (all P<0.05). Compared with the Con group, the levels of IKBα and p65 in cytoplasm of the LPS group were significantly downregulated (both P<0.05), and the levels of p-IKBα in cytoplasm and p65 in nucleus of the LPS group were significantly up-regulated (both P<0.05). Compared with the LPS group, the levels of IKBα and p65 in cytoplasm of the LPS+AST (20 μmol/L) group were significantly upregulated (both P<0.05), and the levels of p-IKBα in cytoplasm and p65 in nucleus of the LPS+AST (20 μmol/L) group were significantly downregulated (both P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expressions of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the LPS+PDTC (10 μmol/L) group were lower than those in the LPS group (all P<0.05).

Conclusion

AST promotes the proliferation of hPDLCs, which is related to suppression of LPS-induced the secretion of inflammatory factors via inhibiting the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway.

Keywords: human periodontal ligament cells, astaxanthin, lipopolysaccharide, inflammatory factors


牙周炎是一种由细菌引起的慢性非特异性炎症,早期仅表现为牙龈的炎症和出血;随着病原微生物及其代谢产物的持续刺激,机体产生免疫应答,分泌大量炎症因子,进而直接或间接破坏牙周支持组织,导致牙齿的松动、脱落。人牙周膜细胞(human periodontal ligament cells,hPDLCs)是一种独特的细胞群体,在特定的环境中能向不同表型分化,是重建牙周支持组织的主要来源[1-2]。在慢性炎症时,hPDLCs的多向分化潜能及趋化能力降低[3]。因此,抑制炎症微环境,提高干细胞的功能特性,能更好地促进牙周组织重建。

虾青素(astaxanthin,AST)广泛地分布在海洋生物中,具有强大的生物活性,被应用于神经系统和心血管系统疾病等的预防与治疗。迄今,尚无研究报道与虾青素相关的显著不良反应[4]。研究表明:AST具有增强免疫应答[5]、抗肿瘤[6]、抗炎、抗氧化等生物学特性,且对神经组织有较强的保护作用[7]。在注射脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)的葡萄膜炎大鼠模型中,AST使NF-κB活化受阻,降低炎症因子水平,从而缓解葡萄膜炎的病情[8]。在体内外AST均能显著缓解LPS介导的炎症[9]。在牙周炎动物模型中,AST能显著减轻牙周炎症,但相关机制尚不清楚[10]。本研究旨在探究炎症微环境下,AST对hPDLCs增殖及炎症因子表达的影响,以期为临床牙周炎的治疗提供理论依据。

1. 材料与方法

1.1. 试剂与仪器

AST购自北京索莱宝科技有限公司,使用前用DMSO溶解AST;LPS购自美国Sigma公司;PDTC购于上海碧云天生物技术有限公司;胎牛血清(fetal bovine serum,FBS)、α-MEM培养基均购自美国Hyclone公司;CCK-8试剂盒购自日本Dojindo公司;定量RT-PCR(RT-qPCR)相关试剂盒(包括RNAiso Plus、反转录试剂盒、荧光定量试剂盒)均购自日本TaKaRa公司;IKBα、磷酸化的IKBα(p-IKBα)、p65抗体购自美国Cell Signaling公司;RT-qPCR仪器购自于美国Bio-Rad公司;倒置显微镜购自日本尼康公司;酶标仪购自美国PerkinElmer公司。

1.2. 方法

1.2.1. 分离、培养及鉴定hPDLCs

选择在重庆医科大学附属口腔医院门诊因正畸拔除的青少年(10~14岁)健康前磨牙进行hPDLCs原代培养。为避免污染,先用PBS将前磨牙冲洗数次,然后用手术刀片在牙根面的中间三分之一处轻轻刮取组织碎片,用I型胶原酶消化组织碎片后离心,铺于T25培养瓶中培养。含10% FBS的α-MEM培养基每3天更换1次,待细胞达到亚融合状态后,用0.25%胰酶消化细胞,按1꞉2的比例进行传代培养。取第3代细胞用于后续实验。本研究经患者及其家属知情同意,且由口腔疾病与生物医学重庆市重点实验室医学伦理委员会批准[2019年伦审(50)号]。在光学显微镜下观察细胞的形态及生长状态。采用免疫化学细胞染色法行波形蛋白和角蛋白染色以鉴定细胞来源。

1.2.2. CCK-8法检测AST对hPDLCs增殖的影响

将第3代hPDLCs以每孔1×104个细胞的密度铺于96孔板。细胞贴壁后,分别加含0、1、5、10、20、50、100、200 μmol/L AST培养基,每组4个复孔。在培养的第1、3、5、7 d时分别加入CCK-8溶液10 μL,在37 ℃下孵育4 h后,用酶标仪检测450 nm波长处的吸光度值。

1.2.3. RT-qPCR和ELISA法检测AST对炎症因子分泌的影响

将第3代hPDLCs以每孔1×105个细胞的密度铺于6孔板。在细胞生长至80%的融合时进行分组:对照(Con)组、LPS组、LPS+AST(5 μmol/L)组、LPS+AST(10 μmol/L)组、LPS+AST(20 μmol/L)组、LPS+AST(50 μmol/L)组,LPS的浓度为10 μg/mL。加入AST作用2 h后,再加入LPS作用24 h。

使用RNAiso Plus提取各组细胞的总RNA,测RNA浓度;按说明书配制反转录混合液,设定反转录程序反转录合成cDNA;充分混匀试剂和样本,采用定量聚合酶链反应(quantitative PCR,qPCR)检测IL-6、IL-1β及TNF-α的mRNA表达水平。以β-actin为内对照,引物(表1)由宝日医生物技术有限公司(北京)合成。

表1.

引物序列

Table 1 Sequence of primer

基因 引物序列(5'→3') 片段大小/bp
β-actin 正向:CCACGAAACTACCTTCAACTCC 132
反向:GTGATCTCCTTCTGCATCCTGT
IL-6 正向:ATGAGGAGACTTGCCTGGTGAA 190
反向:GTTGGGTCAGGGGTGGTTATT
IL-1β 正向:GAAATGATGGCTTATTACAGTGGC 143
反向:TAGTGGTGGTCGGAGATTCGTAG
TNF-α 正向:TCTCCCCTGGAAAGGACACC 171
反向:GCAGGCAGAAGAGCGTGGT

采用ELISA法测定蛋白质水平。按照试剂盒说明书,将细胞培养液离心后收集上清液,向已包被好抗体的ELISA 98孔板中加入适量样品。用酶标仪检测450 nm波长处的吸光度值,通过标准曲线计算样品中IL-6、IL-1β及TNF-α的蛋白质水平。

1.2.4. 蛋白质印迹法、RT-qPCR及ELISA法检测NF-κB通路的作用

将第3代hPDLCs以每孔1×105个细胞的密度铺于6孔板。在细胞生长至80%的融合时进行分组:Con组、LPS组、AST组、LPS+AST组,LPS的浓度为10 μg/mL,AST的终末浓度为20 μmol/L。加入AST作用2 h后,再加入LPS作用24 h。用加入蛋白酶和磷酸酶抑制剂的RIPA裂解液于冰上裂解30 min,分别提取细胞质、细胞核的蛋白质,测定蛋白质浓度。行SDS-PAGE凝胶电泳,转膜,随后用5%的牛奶封闭1 h,加入一抗(1꞉1 000),在4 ℃下孵育过夜,加入二抗(1꞉5 000)在室温下孵育1 h。使用Bio-Rad凝胶成像系统成像分析IKBα、p-IKBα、p65的表达情况,以β-actin或增殖细胞核抗原(proliferating cell nuclear antigen,PCNA)为内对照。

将第3代hPDLCs以每孔1×105个细胞的密度铺于6孔板。在细胞生长至80%的融合时进行分组:Con组、LPS组、LPS+AST组、LPS+PDTC组,AST浓度为20 μmol/L,PDTC浓度为10 μmol/L。采用RT-qPCR和ELISA法检测IL-6、IL-1β及TNF-α mRNA及蛋白质的表达水平。RT-qPCR和ELISA法具体步骤同1.2.3。

1.3. 统计学处理

采用SPSS 17.0统计软件分析数据,计量资料以均数±标准差( x¯ ±s)表示。两组间采用t检验,多组间采用单因素方差分析。检验水准为双侧α=0.05,P<0.05为差异有统计学意义。

2. 结 果

2.1. hPDLCs的鉴定

细胞原代培养7~10 d后,在倒置显微镜下可见长梭形细胞,且随着培养时间的延长,细胞数目增多,呈放射状、旋涡状分布在组织块周围(图1)。免疫化学细胞染色显示:波形蛋白表达呈阳性,细胞质染色为棕黄色;而角蛋白表达呈阴性,细胞质未见明显染色(图2),培养的细胞符合hPDLCs的特点。

图1.

图1

原代hPDLCs(×40)

Figure 1 Primary hPDLCs (×40)

图2.

图2

波形蛋白(A)和角蛋白(B)的免疫化学细胞染色(×200)

Figure 2 Immunocytochemical staining of vimentin (A) and keratin (B) (×200)

2.2. AST促进hPDLCs增殖

CCK-8法检测结果(图3)显示:1、5、10、 20 μmol/L AST能够促进hPDLCs的增殖,并且在 20 μmol/L时达到峰值,50、100、200 μmol/L AST的促进增殖作用减弱甚至表现为抑制。

图3.

图3

不同浓度ASThPDLCs增殖的影响

Figure 3 Effects of different concentrations of AST on proliferation of hPDLCs

2.3. AST抑制LPS诱导的炎症因子分泌

RT-qPCR及ELISA检测结果(图4)显示:LPS组细胞IL-6、IL-1β及TNF-α的mRNA和蛋白质的表达水平均高于Con组(均P<0.05);LPS+AST(5 μmol/L)组、LPS+AST(10 μmol/L)组、LPS+AST(20 μmol/L)组、LPS+AST(50 μmol/L)组细胞IL-6、IL-1β及TNF-α的mRNA和蛋白质的表达水平均低于LPS组(均 P<0.05)。

图4.

图4

ASTLPS诱导的IL-6IL-1βTNF-αmRNA(A)和蛋白质(B)表达的影响

Figure 4 Effects of AST on the mRNA (A) and protein (B) expression of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α induced by LPS

*P<0.05 vs the Con group; †P<0.05 vs the LPS group.

2.4. AST通过NF-κB通路抑制炎症因子的分泌

蛋白质印迹结果(图5)显示:与Con组相比,LPS组细胞质中IKBα和p65水平显著下调(均P<0.05),细胞质中p-IKBα和细胞核中p65水平显著上调(均P<0.05);与LPS组相比,LPS+AST组细胞质中IKBα和p65水平显著上调(均P<0.05),细胞质中p-IKBα和细胞核中p65水平显著下调(均P<0.05)。

图 5.

图 5

蛋白质印迹法检测IKBαp-IKBαp65蛋白质表达水平

Figure 5 Protein expression of IKBα, p-IKBα, and p65 detected by Western blotting

A: In cytoplasm; B: In nucleus. *P<0.05 vs the Con group; †P<0.05 vs the LPS group.

RT-qPCR及ELISA检测结果(图6)显示:LPS+PDTC组IL-6、IL-1β及TNF-α的mRNA和蛋白质的表达水平均低于LPS组(均P<0.05)。

图6.

图6

蛋白质印迹法检测NF-κB抑制剂PDTC处理后炎症因子mRNA(A)和蛋白质(B)的表达水平

Figure 6 mRNA (A) and protein (B) expression of inflammatory factors detected by Western blotting after treatment with NF-κB inhibitor PDTC

*P<0.05 vs the Con group; †P<0.05 vs the LPS group.

3. 讨 论

牙龈卟啉单胞菌是牙周炎最主要的致病菌,其LPS被证实是牙周炎的炎症启动因子[11-12]。LPS能有效地刺激牙周组织产生大量炎症因子从而引起炎症反应和免疫反应,进一步直接或间接地破坏牙周组织。在本研究中,用10 μg/mL的LPS作用于hPDLCs后,炎症因子IL-6、IL-1β及TNF-α分泌增加,表明10 μg/mL的LPS可成功地诱导hPDLCs的炎症反应。

用含0.5%AST的饲料喂养小鼠后发现小鼠海马区细胞增殖显著增加[13]。10 ng/mL的AST可通过上调增殖相关转录因子(Rex 1,CDK1,CDK2)和干性基因(OCT4,SOX2,Nanog,KLF4)的表达来增加神经祖细胞的增殖能力和活力[14]。本研究发现:1、5、10、20 μmol/L的AST能够促进hPDLCs的增殖,并且在20 μmol/L时达到峰值,50、100、200 μmol/L的AST的促进增殖作用减弱。这可能与AST能诱导hPDLCs增殖相关转录因子的表达有关,也可能与AST减轻内源性氧化物对hPDLCs细胞膜的损害有关[15],但仍需更多的研究证实。

hPDLCs在炎症初期即分泌炎症因子[16]。TNF-α能通过刺激炎症因子的分泌,增加破骨细胞的活性,诱导基质细胞的凋亡,限制牙周组织的修复再生[17];IL-1β能刺激干细胞生长因子的释放,激活一系列信号分子,使上皮细胞根向增殖并形成牙周袋,从而破坏牙周支持组织[18];IL-6可通过增强破骨效应,减弱成骨效应,进而促进慢性牙周炎时牙槽骨吸收[19]。NF-κB信号通路是炎症的经典通路,其在慢性牙周炎的发生和发展中起促进作用[20]。AST具有保护细胞膜的作用,独特的分子结构使其可精确地插入细胞膜;通过接受、提供电子中和自由基及其他氧化剂阻断反应性分子与膜的疏水内部及亲水边界的结合,同时还可保证其本身结构不被破坏[21]。Lee等[22]认为AST能通过抑制NF-κB信号通路中IKB激酶(IKK)活化和IKBα降解来减少炎症因子的生成。Miyachi等[23]的研究同样表明:人牙龈角化细胞系NDUSD-1在AST的作用下,NF-κB p65的核定位减少,炎症因子的表达减少,从而减轻炎症反应。本研究发现:AST对LPS刺激的IL-6、IL-1β及TNF-α的分泌具有显著的抑制作用,20 μmol/L的AST与10 μmol/L的NF-κB抑制剂PDTC的效果相当。进一步研究发现这可能与AST抑制IKBα的磷酸化和p65与IKBα的解离入核有关。

综上,本研究发现AST抑制LPS诱导的hPDLCs的炎症反应,提示AST或可作为常规药物用于牙周炎的治疗,其体内调控机制及作用方式还需后续实验进一步阐明。

基金资助

国家自然科学基金(81400541);2016年重庆高校创新团队建设计划(CXTDG201602006)。

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation (81400541) and the Project of 2016 Chongqing University Innovation Team Construction (CXTDG201602006), China.

利益冲突声明

作者声称无任何利益冲突。

原文网址

http://xbyxb.csu.edu.cn/xbwk/fileup/PDF/202103227.pdf

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