Abstract

Background and Objectives: Destruction of the supporting periodontal tissues is mediated by the action of several proteolytic enzymes. Urokinase is a serine protease that plays a key role in connective tissue destruction through conversion of plasminogen into plasmin. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of triclosan on the production and activity of urokinase in cultured gingival fibroblasts. Material and Methods: Urokinase production was studied in primary cultures of human gingival fibroblasts stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-alfa. Urokinase activity and production were evaluated using casein zymography and western blotting, respecively. Urokinase mRNA expression was evaluated using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Triclosan was used to interfere with this stimulatory effect. The roles of different cell-signaling cascades involved in urokinase production were assessed through western blotting and immunofluorescence using several cell-signaling inhibitors. Results: Tumor necrosis factor-alfa was found to be a strong stimulus for urokinase production and triclosan was able to inhibit this response at the protein and mRNA levels. Triclosan was also able to inhibit conversion of plasminogen into plasmin. Tumor necrosis factor-alfa-stimulated urokinase production was shown to be dependent on the nuclear factor-?ß and c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathways. Triclosan inhibited c-Jun N-terminal kinase phosphorylation and c-Jun production. Conclusions: Within the limits of this study, these results show that triclosan may inhibit urokinase production and plasminogen activation in gingival fibroblasts through modulation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathway. © 2009 Blackwell Munksgaard.