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IADR Abstract Archives

Stress-induced increases in IL-6 production are p38 dependent

Objective: Porphyromonas gingivalis is one of the major bacteria associated with chronic periodontitis. Although P. gingivalis possesses virulence factors capable of damaging host tissue, much of the damage is immunopathological. Previous research has demonstrated that exposing mice to a social stressor called social disruption (SDR) enhances the production of inflammatory cytokines by splenic monocyte/macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) derived from P. gingivalis. Because the Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) p38 is important for P. gingivalis-induced cytokine production, we tested the hypothesis that stress-induced increases in cytokine production are p38 dependent.

Methods: Splenocytes from male CD-1 mice exposed to the SDR stressor, and from nonstressed controls, were stimulated with 10 µg/ml of P. gingivalis LPS with or without the pharmacological inhibitor of p38 phosphorylation, SB202190 (50 or 100 µM). Interleukin-6 levels were determined from supernatants using enzyme linked immunosorbant assays (BD Biosciences, San Diego, CA), and cell viability was assessed using the Cell Titer 96 Aqueous Assay (Promega, Madison, WI) after 18 hrs in culture.

Results: Exposure to SDR resulted in a significant increase in IL-6 levels after P. gingivalis LPS stimulation (p < .05). However, after treatment with SB202190 to block p38 phosphorylation, cells from mice exposed to SDR and from control mice produced similar levels of IL-6. Assessment of cell viability indicated that IL-6 production was decreased on a per cell basis demonstrating that the effects of SB202190 on IL-6 were independent of SB202190-induced reductions in cell viability. Conclusion: The MAPK p38 is necessary for stress-induced increases in IL-6 production by splenocytes stimulated with P. gingivalis-LPS. (Supported by NIH grants RO3AI069097 and 2T32DE014320-6 and an OSU College of Dentistry Seed Grant).


Division: IADR/AADR/CADR General Session
Meeting: 2009 IADR/AADR/CADR General Session (Miami, Florida)
Location: Miami, Florida
Year: 2009
Final Presentation ID: 2996
Abstract Category|Abstract Category(s): Microbiology / Immunology and Infection Control
Authors
  • Miller, Megan  ( Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA )
  • Allen, Rebecca  ( Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA )
  • Shepherd, Jessica  ( Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA )
  • Galley, Jeffrey D.  ( Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA )
  • Padgett, David A.  ( Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA )
  • Sheridan, John F.  ( Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA )
  • Leblebicioglu, Binnaz  ( Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA )
  • Bailey, Michael T.  ( Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA )
    • SESSION INFORMATION
    Oral Session
    Cells and Molecules of the Immune System
    04/04/2009