%0 Journal Article
%T Caries induced cytokine network in the odontoblast layer of human teeth
%A Orapin V Horst
%A Jeremy A Horst
%A Ram Samudrala
%A Beverly A Dale
%J BMC Immunology
%D 2011
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1471-2172-12-9
%X We demonstrate profound differential up-regulation of inflammatory genes in the odontoblast layer (ODL) in human teeth with caries in vivo, while the pulp remains largely unchanged. Interleukins, chemokines, and all tested receptors thereof were differentially up-regulated in ODL of carious teeth, well over one hundred-fold for 35 of 84 genes. By interrogating reconstructed protein interaction networks corresponding to the differentially up-regulated genes, we develop the hypothesis that pro-inflammatory cytokines highly expressed in ODL of carious teeth, IL-1¦Â, IL-1¦Á, and TNF-¦Á, carry the converged inflammatory signal. We show that IL1¦Â amplifies antimicrobial peptide production in odontoblasts in vitro 100-fold more than lipopolysaccharide, in a manner matching subsequent in vivo measurements.Our data suggest that ODL amplifies bacterial signals dramatically by self-feedback cytokine-chemokine signal-receptor cycling, and signal convergence through IL1R1 and possibly others, to increase defensive capacity including antimicrobial peptide production to protect the tooth and contain the battle against carious bacteria within the dentin.Cytokines generate and maintain host responses to microbial infection. Living cells of the host secrete these molecules as paracrine or autocrine signals to recruit cells of the immune system (chemokines), produce inflammation (proinflammatory cytokines), or control the inflammatory responses (anti-inflammatory cytokines). The fine-tuned cytokine networks facilitate the eradication of invading microbes but maintain a balance between pro- and anti-inflammation thereby creating a favorable environment for tissue repair [1].Dental caries and subsequent tooth pulp inflammation are major oral health problems caused by bacterial infection. Previous studies have reported increased expression of various cytokines in caries-affected dental pulp and/or odontoblasts including transforming growth factor-¦Â1 (TGF¦Â1), vascular endothelial cell growth
%U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2172/12/9