Mechanisms Underlying Enterococcus faecalis-Induced Tumor Necrosis Factor-$\alpha$ Production in Macrophages

  • Choi, Eun-Kyoung (Department of Oral Microbiology, Dental Science Research Institute, Chonnam National University Dental School) ;
  • Kim, Dae-Eob (Department of Conservative Dentistry, Dental Science Research Institute, Chonnam National University Dental School) ;
  • Oh, Won-Mann (Department of Conservative Dentistry, Dental Science Research Institute, Chonnam National University Dental School) ;
  • Paek, Yun-Woong (Department of Physical Therapy, Gwangju Health College University) ;
  • Kang, In-Chol (Department of Oral Microbiology, Dental Science Research Institute, Chonnam National University Dental School)
  • Received : 2010.04.09
  • Accepted : 2010.06.04
  • Published : 2010.06.30

Abstract

Enterococcus faecalis, a gram-positive bacterium, has been implicated in endodontic infections, particularly in chronic apical periodontitis. Proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$), are involved in the pathogenesis of these apical lesions. E. faecalis has been reported to stimulate macrophages to produce TNF-$\alpha$. The present study investigated the mechanisms involved in TNF-$\alpha$ production by a murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7 in response to exposure to E. faecalis. Both live and heat-killed E. faecalis induced high levels of gene expression and protein release of TNF-$\alpha$. Treatment of RAW 264.7 cells with cytochalasin D, an inhibitor of endocytosis, prevented the mRNA up-regulation of TNF-$\alpha$ by E. faecalis. In addition, antioxidant treatment reduced TNF-$\alpha$ production to baseline levels. Inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase also significantly attenuated E. faecalis-induced TNF-$\alpha$ expression by RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and AP-1 in RAW 264.7 cells was also stimulated by E. faecalis. These results suggest that the phagocytic uptake of bacteria is necessary for the induction of TNF-$\alpha$ in E. faecalis-stimulated macrophages, and that the underlying intracellular signaling pathways involve reactive oxygen species, ERK, p38 MAP kinase, NF-${\kappa}B$, and AP-1.

Keywords

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