Abstract

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis ( P. gingivalis ) and other pathogens. P. gingivalis release various virulence factors including lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, whether P. gingivalis –LPS inducing pyroptosis in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) remains unknown. In present study, P. gingivalis –LPS decreased the membrane integrity of HGFs, and pyroptosis-associated cytokines were upregulated at the mRNA level. In addition, pyroptosis proteins were highly expressed in gingival tissues of periodontitis. P. gingivalis –LPS induced gingivitis in the rat model, and the expression level of pyroptosis-associated proteins increased. Together, P. gingivalis –LPS can activate the pyroptosis reaction, which may be a pro-pyroptosis status in a relative low concentration.