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Enterococcus faecalis Inhibits Osteoblast Differentiation and Induces Chemokine Expression
Ok-Jin Park1, Jiseon Kim1, Jihyun Yang1
1Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, DRI and BK21 Plus Program, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Journal of Endodontics
|July 5, 2015
Summary
Enterococcus faecalis inhibits osteoblast differentiation and bone mineralization. This bacterium also promotes chemokine expression, potentially contributing to inflammation and bone loss in refractory apical periodontitis.
Area of Science:
- Oral biology
- Microbiology
- Bone biology
Background:
- Enterococcus faecalis is prevalent in refractory apical periodontitis, linked to inflammation and impaired bone regeneration.
- This study explores the impact of E. faecalis on osteoblast function and inflammatory cell recruitment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of E. faecalis on osteoblast differentiation.
- To determine E. faecalis's role in inducing chemokine expression for inflammatory cell recruitment.
Main Methods:
- Osteoblast precursors were differentiated with or without heat-killed E. faecalis (HKEF).
- Mineralization, Runx2 activity, osteogenic gene expression, and chemokine secretion (using ELISA) were assessed.
- Mononuclear cell migration was analyzed using a transwell system.
Main Results:
- HKEF significantly inhibited osteoblast mineralization and Runx2 transcriptional activity.
- Expression of key osteogenic markers (Runx2, osterix, β-catenin, osteocalcin, collagen I) was decreased by HKEF.
- HKEF upregulated chemokine expression (keratinocyte-derived chemokine, monocyte chemotactic protein-1) and enhanced mononuclear cell migration.
Conclusions:
- Heat-killed E. faecalis inhibits osteoblast differentiation and mineralization.
- E. faecalis stimulates chemokine production, which may drive inflammation and bone loss in apical periodontitis.
