Functions of Lipocalin2 in periodontal disease

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K23083
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0907:Oral science and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: KIDO Rie 徳島大学, 病院, 助教 (60876027)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: Lipocalin2 / 口腔上皮細胞 / 歯根膜線維芽細胞 / 好中球 / 抗菌作用 / マイクロアレイ分析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of lipocalin 2 (LCN2) derived from oral epithelial cells on cells in periodontal tissues. A receptor of LCN2, 24p3R, strongly expressed in neutrophil-like cells, differentiated HL-60, but its expression in human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament fibroblasts were very weak. Recombinant LCN2 (rLCN2) increased the expression of CCL-1, a chemokine, and adrenomedullin, an anti-inflammatory factor, in neutrophil-like cells. However, rLCN2 did not influence the expression of inflammation-related cytokine, IL-6, and immunity-related cytokine, IL-34, in human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament fibroblasts. When the effect of rLCN2 on an adhesion of Porphyromonas gingivalis to oral epithelial cells was investigated, rLCN2 significantly inhibited an adhesion of P. gingivalis to oral epithelial cells. LCN2 derived from oral epithelial cells play multiple roles in periodontal tissues.

Free Research Field

歯周病学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究によりリポカリン２（LCN２）が，歯周組織を構成する細胞において炎症や免疫調節に関連した影響を及ぼしていること，Porphyromonas gingivalisの口腔上皮細胞に対する付着を抑制することが明らかとなった。歯周組織を構成する細胞においてLCN２のレセプターの発現には違いがあることから，生体内でもLCN２が作用する細胞やその生理作用には違いがあると推測される。LCN２は多様な作用があり，歯周病の病態形成や生体反応に複雑な影響を及ぼしていると考えられる。今後さらにLCN２の作用機序を明らかにしていくことでLCN２を用いた歯周病の早期診断や予防に繋がる可能性がある。