Ascorbic Acid: A New Player of Epigenetic Regulation in LPS- gingivalis Treated Human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2021 Jan 19:2021:6679708. doi: 10.1155/2021/6679708. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Periodontitis is usually sustained from microorganism of oral cavity, like Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). Periodontal disease is an infectious disease that afflicts a large number of people. Researches are investigating on the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) response to inflammatory events in combination with antioxidant substances. In particular, ascorbic acid (AA) increased cell proliferation, upregulated the cells pluripotency marker expression, provide a protection from inflammation, and induced the regeneration of periodontal ligament tissue. The purpose of the present research was to investigate the effects of AA in primary culture of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) exposed to P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS-G). The effect of AA on hPDLSCs exposed to LPS-G was determined through the cell proliferation assay. The molecules involved in the inflammatory pathway and epigenetic regulation have been identified using immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses. miR-210 level was quantified by qRT-PCR, and the ROS generation was finally studied. Cells co-treated with LPS-G and AA showed a restoration in terms of cell proliferation. The expression of NFκB, MyD88, and p300 was upregulated in LPS-G exposed cells, while the expression was attenuated in the co-treatment with AA. DNMT1 expression is attenuated in the cells exposed to the inflammatory stimulus. The level of miR-210 was reduced in stimulated cells, while the expression was evident in the hPDLSCs co-treated with LPS-G and AA. In conclusion, the AA could enhance a protective effect in in vitro periodontitis model, downregulating the inflammatory pathway and ROS generation and modulating the miR-210 level.

MeSH terms

  • Ascorbic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Lipopolysaccharides / isolation & purification
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Periodontal Ligament / drug effects
  • Periodontal Ligament / pathology
  • Periodontal Ligament / physiology
  • Periodontitis / chemically induced
  • Periodontitis / genetics*
  • Periodontitis / microbiology
  • Periodontitis / pathology
  • Porphyromonas gingivalis / chemistry
  • Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Stem Cells / pathology
  • Stem Cells / physiology

Substances

  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Ascorbic Acid