AUTHOR=Takeuchi Hiroki , Nakamura Eriko , Yamaga Shunsuke , Amano Atsuo 

TITLE=Porphyromonas gingivalis Infection Induces Lipopolysaccharide and Peptidoglycan Penetration Through Gingival Epithelium

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oral Health

VOLUME=3

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oral-health/articles/10.3389/froh.2022.845002

DOI=10.3389/froh.2022.845002

ISSN=2673-4842

ABSTRACT=<p>Periodontal diseases initiate on epithelial surfaces of the subgingival compartment, while the gingival epithelium functions as an epithelial barrier against microbial infection and orchestrates immune responses. <italic>Porphyromonas gingivalis</italic> is a major pathogen of periodontal diseases and has an ability to penetrate the epithelial barrier. To assess the molecular basis of gingival epithelial barrier dysfunction associated with <italic>P. gingivalis</italic>, we newly developed a three-dimensional multilayered tissue model of gingival epithelium with gene manipulation. Using this novel approach, <italic>P. gingivalis</italic> gingipains including Arg- or Lys-specific cysteine proteases were found to specifically degrade junctional adhesion molecule 1 and coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor in the tissue model, leading to increased permeability for lipopolysaccharide, peptidoglycan, and gingipains. This review summarizes the strategy used by <italic>P. gingivalis</italic> to disable the epithelial barrier by disrupting specific junctional adhesion molecules.</p>