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Blocking of Caspases Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Effects on Periodontal Cells

Layla Panahipour1, Lara Cristina Cunha Cervantes1,2, Azarakhsh Oladzad Abbasabadi1

  • 1Department of Oral Biology, University Clinic of Dentistry, Medical University of Vienna, Sensengasse 2a, 1090 Vienna, Austria.

Life (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 27, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK reduces inflammation in periodontal cells. This study shows blocking caspases lowers inflammatory markers like cytokines and chemokines in response to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and TNFα.

Area of Science:

  • Oral biology
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Periodontitis involves inflammation linked to caspase activity.
  • Caspases are potential molecular targets for modulating inflammatory responses.
  • Harmful factors like lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and TNFα trigger inflammatory cascades.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK on inflammatory responses.
  • To examine the modulation of LPS-induced inflammation in murine cells.
  • To assess TNFα-induced inflammatory responses in human and murine cells.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK (carbobenzoxy-valyl-alanyl-aspartyl-[O-methyl]-fluoro-methyl ketone).
  • Examined LPS-induced inflammatory response in murine RAW 264.7 cells and primary macrophages.
  • Studied TNFα-induced inflammatory responses in human gingival fibroblasts, HSC2 cells, and murine ST2 cells.

Main Results:

  • Z-VAD-FMK significantly reduced IL1 and IL6 expression in RAW 264.7 cells and macrophages.
  • TNFα-induced CCL2 and CCL5 expression was significantly reduced in murine ST2 cells.
  • Z-VAD-FMK considerably reduced CXCL8 and CXCL10 expression in human gingival fibroblasts and HSC2 cells.

Conclusions:

  • Pharmacological caspase inhibition effectively lowers inflammatory responses in periodontal cells.
  • Blocking caspases reduces the expression of key cytokines and chemokines.
  • Caspase inhibitors represent a potential therapeutic strategy for periodontitis-related inflammation.
Keywords:
caspasefibroblastin vitroinflammationmacrophageperiodontitis

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