Author/Editor		Vindiš, B; Gašperšič, R; Coer, A; Skalerič, U; Kovačič, U
Title		Izražanje receptorjev TLR4 v senzoričnih nevronih, ki oživčujejo vneto dlesen, pri podgani
Translated title		TLR4 expression in sensory neurons innervating inflamed gingiva in the rat
Type		članek
Source		Zobozdrav Vestn
Vol. and No.		Letnik 65, št. 4-5
Publication year		2010
Volume		str. 92-8
Language		slo
Abstract		Background: Sensory neurons regulate different local inflammatory reactions, also periodontitis. Toll-like receptors (TLR) play a key role in the early phase of this response. TLR expression in neurons is up-regulated in various pathological conditions. We aimed to determine whether neurons innervating gingiva express TLR4, a receptor recognizing the polysaccharides of Gram-negative bacteria, and whether this expression is influenced by periodontitis. Materials and methods: Adult female Wistar rats were used (n = 10). Sensory neurons innervating gingiva were labelled with a retrograde marker, Fluoro-Gold (FG), applied to the gingiva of the right upper molar. In the experimental group (n = 5), periodontitis was induced by ligatures left in place for ten days. FGcontaining neurons were identified in histological sections of trigeminal ganglia, and their TLR4 content was evaluated by immunohistochemical methods. Results: TLR4 was expressed in 12% of neurons innnervating intact gingiva (control group) and in 24% of neurons innervating inflamed gingiva (experimental group). In the experimental group, TLR4 expression was increased especially in middle-sized neurons, where it was 3.4 times more frequent than in the control group. Conclusion: Up-regulation of TLR4 expression in smaller sensory neurons projecting into inflamed gingiva suggests that nociceptors may be sensitized in inflammation. In addition, TLR4-mediated activation of neurons could affect the neurogenic mechanisms that regulate periodontitis.
Descriptors		PERIODONTITIS TRIGEMINAL GANGLION NEURONS, AFFERENT IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY RECEPTORS, INTERLEUKIN-1 FLUORESCENT DYES DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL RATS, WISTAR