The role of interleukin-7 in Porphyromonas gingivalis - stimulated vascular calcification

• Published in: International journal of oral biology Vol. 49; no. 4; pp. 110 - 117
• Main Authors: Park, Hyun-Joo, Kim, Mi-Kyoung, Kim, Yeon, Bae, Soo-Kyung, Kim, Hyung Joon, Bae, Moon-Kyoung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 대한구강생물학회 31.12.2024
• Subjects: 치의학; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Vascular calcification; Interleukin-7; Chronic kidney diseases
• ISSN: 1226-7155; 2287-6618
• DOI: 10.11620/IJOB.2024.49.4.110

Periodontal disease has been implicated in the progression of various systemic diseases, including chronic kidney disease (CKD). Recent evidence suggests that infection of Porphyromonas gingivalis , a major periodontal pathogen, may also contribute to vascular calcification in patients with CKD. In the present study, antibody array analysis of serum samples from CKD mice administered with oral P. gingivalis revealed significant alterations in protein expression profiles, with notable interleukin-7 (IL-7) upregulation. We demonstrated that P. gingivalis infection enhances the inorganic phosphate-induced calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), a pathological process that is characteristically accelerated in CKD. Notably, IL-7 expression was significantly upregulated in the P. gingivalis -stimulated calcification of VSMCs. Moreover, IL-7 knockdown in VSMCs markedly attenuated the P. gingivalis -stimulated calcification of VSMCs and suppressed the expression of osteogenic markers, including alkaline phosphatase and Runt-related transcription factor 2. These findings suggest that IL-7 plays a crucial role in P. gingivalis -stimulated vascular calcification, potentially providing new therapeutic targets for preventing vascular calcification in CKD patients with periodontal infection.