Differential inflammasome activation by Porphyromonas gingivalis and cholesterol crystals in human macrophages and coronary artery endothelial cells.

Objective: Observational evidence suggests association between periodontitis and atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASVD), however the cause-effect remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the mechanistic link of the two diseases by measuring production of interleukin (IL)-1β, a potent inflammatory cytokine, induced via inflammasome activation by a key periodontal pathogen--Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS and cholesterol crystals (CC).

Methods: An in vitro model of primary human monocyte-derived macrophages (M1 and M2 macrophages) and coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) was employed as a source of inflammasome product-IL-1β. Both cell types are essential in initial inflammatory process of ASVD. As inflammasome activation requires 2 signals, P. gingivalis LPS was used as a signal1 and CC as a signal2.

Results: We found markedly release of IL-1β from P. gingivalis LPS-primed M1 and M2 macrophages treated with CC. Unlike macrophages, HCAEC showed no release of IL-1β in response to P. gingivalis LPS priming and subsequent treatment with either CC or extracellular danger molecule adenosine-5'-triphosphate (signal2). However, HCAEC, which were primed with pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α (signal1) and treated with adenosine-5'-triphosphate, consistently secreted minimal IL-1β. The amount of IL-1β released from activated HCAEC was much lower than that from M1 or M2 macrophages.

Conclusions: P. gingivalis LPS and CC induced a differential activation of the inflammasome between human macrophages and HCAEC. The mechanistic role of periodontal infection in inflammasome activation as a cause of ASVD requires further investigation.