Expression and characterization of vanilloid receptor subtype 1 in human dental pulp cell cultures

• Published in: Journal of endodontics Vol. 31; no. 9; p. 652
• Main Authors: Miyamoto, Rie, Tokuda, Masayuki, Sakuta, Tetsuya, Nagaoka, Shigetaka, Torii, Mitsuo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-09-2005
• Subjects: Adult; Capsaicin - metabolism; Cells, Cultured; Dental Pulp - cytology; Dental Pulp - physiopathology; Female; Humans; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism; NF-kappa B - metabolism; Receptors, Drug - metabolism; TRPV Cation Channels
• ISSN: 0099-2399
• DOI: 10.1097/01.don.0000155259.22746.ae

The expression of the vanilloid receptor subtype 1 (VR1, TRPV1) was detected in human dental pulp fibroblasts (PF-10) using RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunocytochemical analysis. As revealed by ELISA, capsaicin induced IL-6 expression in PF-10 cells, and the VR1 antagonist capsazepine dose-dependently inhibited capsaicin-induced IL-6 production, indicating that capsaicin-induced IL-6 expression is related to VR1 activation. The interaction between capsaicin and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) was investigated. The phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) were detected after capsaicin stimulation. p38 MAPK is involved in capsaicin-induced IL-6 production, as shown by the use of specific inhibitors of this kinase. The result of EMSA showed that capsaicin inhibited tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation in PF-10 cell cultures. These results suggest that the activation of VR1 plays an important role in dental pulp inflammation.