Porphyromonas gingivalis infection alters Nrf2-phase II enzymes and nitric oxide in primary human aortic endothelial cells.

Background: Periodontal disease (PD) is known to be associated with endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary artery and/or cardiovascular disease. In our study, we sought to explore the virulence of P. gingivalis (Pg) affecting glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3β)/nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2)/tetrahydrobiopterin (BH )/ nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression in primary human aortic endothelial cells (pHAECs).