Cultured human periodontal ligament cells constitutively express multiple osteotropic cytokines and growth factors, several of which are responsive to mechanical deformation
JOURNAL OF PERIODONTAL RESEARCH
Authors: Pinkerton, Mark N.; Wescott, David C.; Gaffey, Benjamin J.; Beggs, Kyle T.; Milne, Trudy J.; Meikle, Murray C.
Abstract
Background and Objective: A role for cytokines and growth factors in mediating the cellular and molecular events involved in orthodontic tooth movement is well established. The focus to date, however, has been largely on individual mediators, rather than to study cytokines in terms of complex interacting networks. Our objective was to expand our knowledge of the cytokines and growth factors expressed by human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells and to identify new genes that are responsive to mechanical deformation. Material and Methods: Human PDL cells were strained with a cyclic deformation of 12% for 6-24 h, and the differential expression of 79 cytokine and growth factor genes was quantified using real-time RT-PCR arrays. For statistical comparison, t-tests were used with mean critical threshold (CT) values derived from triplicate samples. Results: Forty-one genes were detected at CT values < 35 and, of these, 15 showed a significant change in relative expression. These included seven interleukins (IL): IL1A, IL1F7, IL6 and IL7 (down), IL8, IL11 and IL12A (up). Eight genes representing other cytokine and growth factor families showed comparable mechanical sensitivity, including VEGFD and OPG (down) and PDGFA, INHBA, GDF8 and two transforming growth factor beta genes, TGFB1 and TGFB3 (up). The genes CSF2/GMCSF and IL11 were found to be consistently stimulated across all three time points. Genes that were not expressed included: (1) the immunoregulatory lymphokines (IL2-IL5), IL17 and IL17B; (2) IL10 and other members of the IL-10 family of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL19, IL20, IL22 and IL24); and (3) TNF and RANKL. Conclusion: Human PDL cells constitutively express numerous osteotropic cytokines and growth factors, many of which are mechanoresponsive.
mRNA expression of interleukins and Th1/Th2 imbalance in patients with pulmonary embolism
MOLECULAR MEDICINE REPORTS
Authors: Duan, Qianglin; Lv, Wei; Wang, Lemin; Gong, Zhu; Wang, Qiang; Song, Haoming; Wang, Hao
Abstract
Few studies have investigated the changes of Th1- and Th2-type cytokines in pulmonary embolism (PE) patients. In this study, the gene expression of interleukins and the balance of Th1- and Th2-type cytokines in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of PE patients and controls were investigated. A total of 20 PE patients and 20 gender-and age-matched controls were included in the study. Human cDNA microarray analysis was used to detect the differences in cytokine gene expression between the two groups and a random variance model corrected t-test was used to analyze the statistical data. In comparison with the controls, 12 genes were found to be downregulated, specifically. IL1A, IL9, IL17B, IL19, IL23A, IL25 (P<0.05), IL2, IL3, IL13, IL22, IL24 and IL31 (P<0.01), and 2 genes were found to be upregulated, specifically IL10 and IL28A, in the PE patients. The expression levels of IFN-gamma and IL2 mRNA in the PE patients were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01), while the IL20 mRNA expression levels were significantly upregulated (P<0.01). We conclude that there are significant differences in interleukin gene expression between the PE patients and the control group. A shift of the Th1/Th2 balance comprising enhanced Th2 activity and reduced Th1 activity in the PE patients is also demonstrated.