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Updated: May 29, 2026

Organotypic Tissue Model Systems for Investigating Host-Pathogen Interactions In Vitro
Published on: March 28, 2025
Hepatocytes produce tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in response to Porphyromonas gingivalis
M Takano1, N Sugano, S Mochizuki
1Nihon University Graduate School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan Department of Periodontology, Nihon University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan.
Background And Objective:
The liver plays a major role in clearing systemic bacterial infections. In addition, inflammatory cytokines produced in the liver play a critical role in systemic cytokine levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by hepatocytes in response to periodontal pathogens.
Material And Methods:
The mouse hepatic carcinoma cell line Hepa-1.6 and the mouse macrophage-like cell line RAW 264 were co-cultured in Transwell insert plates. Cells were stimulated with bacterial extracts prepared from Porphyromonas gingivalis and the induction of TNF-α and IL-6 was measured using real-time PCR and ELISA.
Results:
After stimulation with bacteria, the induction of TNF-α and IL-6 was observed in RAW 264 cells and Hepa-1.6 cells. Significant reduction of TNF-α mRNA expression in Hepa-1.6 cells was observed after treatment with antibody to TNF-α.
Conclusion:
The results obtained in the present study show that P. gingivalis extract induces TNF-α and IL-6 in an in vitro liver model and that macrophage-derived TNF-α mediates the induction of TNF-α in hepatocytes.
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