Figure 8. CD14 neutralization attenuated periapical inflammation in TLR2 KO mice.

A. Representative µCT images of periapical lesions in anterior-posterior direction. The effect of CD14 neutralization on infection-induced periapical bone loss in TLR2 KO mice was determined on day 21 post infection (n = 5). Mice that received isotype-matched control IgG served as disease controls (n = 5). The treatment regimen was described in the materials and methods. The position of each CT slice was the most central part of mandibular first molar distal root (R). The original length of the side of each square CT image was 2.4 mm. Arrow points to radiolucent periapical lesion. AB: alveolar bone.

B. Size of periapical lesions. CD14 neutralization effectively inhibited the development of periapical lesion in TLR2 KO mice. Anti-CD14 antibody treatment significantly suppressed the extent of periapical lesions in TLR2 KO mice. **: p<0.01 vs. control IgG group.

C. Effect of CD14 neutralization on NF-κB genes. The treatment effect on NF-κB gene expressions was determined by real-time RT-PCR (n = 3, triplicates per sample). CD14 neutralization suppressed the expression of NF-κB genes in periapical lesions compared to control IgG group (*: p<0.05; **p<0.01 vs. control IgG group). Y-axis: relative gene expression level (fold change value) in a semi-logarithmic format.