Runt-related gene 2 is involved in the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-13 expression by roxithromycin in human gingival epithelial cell cultures.

Background And Objective: Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 has wide substrate specificity compared with other MMPs and appears to be involved in periodontitis. Previously, we reported that roxithromycin (RXM) inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor expression induced by tumour necrosis factor-alpha in human periodontal ligament cells, but little is known about the effect of RXM on MMP-13 expression in human gingival epithelial cells. We therefore examined the effect of RXM on MMP-13 mRNA expression and production in cultured human gingival epithelial cells.

Selective inhibition of Porphyromonas gingivalis growth by a factor Xa inhibitor, DX-9065a.

Background: Porphyromonas gingivalis is a causative bacterium of adult periodontitis. However, there is no drug specific for P. gingivalis and for its virulence factor.

DX-9065a inhibits proinflammatory events induced by gingipains and factor Xa.

Objective: Arginine-specific cysteine proteases (Rgps) from Porphyromonas gingivalis are important virulent factors of periodontal diseases. However, there is no therapeutic drug that inhibits proinflammatory events induced by these enzymes. In this study, we investigated proinflammatory activities of Rgps and activated coagulation factor X (FXa) and examined the effect of DX-9065a, a new selective inhibitor of FXa, on proinflammatory events induced by these proteinases.

Enhanced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor by periodontal pathogens in gingival fibroblasts.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has recently attracted attention as a potent inducer of vascular permeability and angiogenesis. Aberrant angiogenesis is often associated with lesion formation in chronic periodontitis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the properties of VEGF expression in human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) culture.