Isoliquiritigenin alleviates P. gingivalis-LPS/ATP-induced pyroptosis by inhibiting NF-κB/ NLRP3/GSDMD signals in human gingival fibroblasts

Objective: To investigate whether Pyroptosis is induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis-lipopolysaccharide (P. gingivalis-LPS)/ adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through NF-κB/NLRP3/GSDMD signaling in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) and whether isoliquiritigenin (ISL) alleviates Pyroptosis by inhibition of NF-κB/NLRP3/GSDMD signals.

Design: Periodontitis was optimally simulated using a combination of P. gingivalis-LPS and ATP. The expression levels of genes and proteins of NF-κB, NLRP3 inflammasome, GSDMD, and IL-1β was characterized by qRT-PCR, western blotting and ELISA. The 2',7'‑dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate fluorescence probe was used to determine the intracellular ROS level. Hoechst 33342 and PI double staining, cytotoxicity assay, and Caspase-1 activity assay were used to confirm the influence of ISL on Pyroptosis in P. gingivalis-LPS/ATP-treated HGFs.

Results: P. gingivalis-LPS/ATP stimulation significantly promoted expression of NF-κB, the NLRP3 inflammasome, GSDMD, and IL-1β at gene and protein levels. The proportion of membrane-damaged cells, Caspase-1 activity, and the release of Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) were also elevated. However, pretreatment with ISL observably suppressed these effects.

Conclusions: P. gingivalis-LPS/ATP induced Pyroptosis in HGFs by activating NF-κB/NLRP3/GSDMD signals and ISL attenuated P. gingivalis-LPS/ATP-induced Pyroptosis by inhibiting these signals. This evidence may provide a new direction for the treatment of periodontitis.