RvD1(n-3 DPA) Downregulates the Transcription of Pro-Inflammatory Genes in Oral Epithelial Cells and Reverses Nuclear Translocation of Transcription Factor p65 after TNF-α Stimulation.

Specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) are multifunctional lipid mediators that participate in the resolution of inflammation. We have recently described that oral epithelial cells (OECs) express receptors of the SPM resolvin RvD1(n-3 DPA) and that cultured OECs respond to RvD1(n-3 DPA) addition by intracellular calcium release, nuclear receptor translocation and transcription of genes coding for antimicrobial peptides. The aim of the present study was to assess the functional outcome of RvD1(n-3 DPA)-signaling in OECs under inflammatory conditions. To this end, we performed transcriptomic analyses of TNF-α-stimulated cells that were subsequently treated with RvD1(n-3 DPA) and found significant downregulation of pro-inflammatory nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) target genes. Further bioinformatics analyses showed that RvD1(n-3 DPA) inhibited the expression of several genes involved in the NF-κB activation pathway. Confocal microscopy revealed that addition of RvD1(n-3 DPA) to OECs reversed TNF-α-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65. Co-treatment of the cells with the exportin 1 inhibitor leptomycin B indicated that RvD1(n-3 DPA) increases nuclear export of p65. Taken together, our observations suggest that SPMs also have the potential to be used as a therapeutic aid when inflammation is established

Expression and function of resolvin RvD1(n-3 DPA) receptors in oral epithelial cells

Chronic inflammatory responses can inflict permanent damage to host tissues. Specialized pro-resolving mediators downregulate inflammation but also can have other functions. The aim of this study was to examine whether oral epithelial cells express the receptors FPR2/ALX and DRV1/GPR32, which bind RvD1(n-3 DPA) , a recently described pro-resolving mediator derived from omega-3 docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and whether RvD1(n-3 DPA) exposure induced significant responses in these cells. Gingival biopsies were stained using antibodies to FPR2/ALX and DRV1/GPR32. Expression of FPR2/ALX and DRV1/GPR32 was examined in primary oral epithelial cells by qRT-PCR, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence. The effect of RvD1(n-3 DPA) on intracellular calcium mobilization and transcription of beta-defensins 1 and 2, and cathelicidin was evaluated by qRT-PCR. FPR2/ALX and DRV1/GPR32 were expressed by gingival keratinocytes in situ. In cultured oral epithelial cells, FPR2/ALX was detected on the cell surface, whereas FPR2/ALX and DRV1/GPR32 were detected intracellularly. Exposure to RvD1(n-3 DPA) induced intracellular calcium mobilization, FPR2/ALX internalization, DRV1/GPR32 translocation to the nucleus, and significantly increased expression of genes coding for beta-defensin 1, beta-defensin 2, and cathelicidin. This shows that the signal constituted by RvD1(n-3 DPA) is recognized by oral keratinocytes and that this can strengthen the antimicrobial and regulatory potential of the oral epithelium

Association of the CHEK2 c.1100delC variant, radiotherapy, and systemic treatment with contralateral breast cancer risk and breast cancer-specific survival

Background: Breast cancer (BC) patients with a germline CHEK2 c.1100delC variant have an increased risk of contralateral BC (CBC) and worse BC-specific survival (BCSS) compared to non-carriers.Aim: To assessed the associations of CHEK2 c.1100delC, radiotherapy, and systemic treatment with CBC risk and BCSS.Methods: Analyses were based on 82,701 women diagnosed with a first primary invasive BC including 963 CHEK2 c.1100delC carriers; median follow-up was 9.1 years. Differential associations with treatment by CHEK2 c.1100delC status were tested by including interaction terms in a multivariable Cox regression model. A multi-state model was used for further insight into the relation between CHEK2 c.1100delC status, treatment, CBC risk and death. Results: There was no evidence for differential associations of therapy with CBC risk by CHEK2 c.1100delC status. The strongest association with reduced CBC risk was observed for the combination of chemotherapy and endocrine therapy [HR (95% CI): 0.66 (0.55-0.78)]. No association was observed with radiotherapy.Results from the multi-state model showed shorter BCSS for CHEK2 c.1100delC carriers versus non-carriers also after accounting for CBC occurrence [HR (95% CI): 1.30 (1.09-1.56)].Conclusion: Systemic therapy was associated with reduced CBC risk irrespective of CHEK2 c.1100delC status. Moreover, CHEK2 c.1100delC carriers had shorter BCSS, which appears not to be fully explained by their CBC risk.Peer reviewe

Inhibition of the Transforming Growth Factor-β/Smad Signaling Pathway in the Epithelium of Oral Lichen

The basal cells in epithelium of the erythematous form of oral lichen display hyperproliferation compared with normal oral mucosa. In this study we examined whether this is associated with disrupted production, activation, or signal transduction of the epithelial growth inhibitor transforming growth factor (TGF) β1. In situ immunostaining showed that most epithelial cells in normal oral mucosa had nuclear and cytoplasmic Smad4 and phosphorylated Smad2/3, but expressed little or no Smad7. Expression of latency-associated peptide TGF-β1, latent TGF-β binding protein 1, TGF-β type I receptor, and TGF-β type II receptor was readily seen, but only very little TGF-β1 was activated. In erythematous oral lichen, basal and lower spinous epithelial layers showed staining for latency-associated peptide TGF-β1, TGF-β type I receptor, and TGF-β type II receptor. A band with scanty staining for these molecules, but with marked staining for active TGF-β1, was seen in the upper spinous and granular layers. Numbers of epithelial cell nuclei with Smad4 and phosphorylated Smad2/3 staining were significantly reduced in erythematous oral lichen compared with normal oral mucosa. Basal and suprabasal cell layers in erythematous oral lichen showed strong cytoplasmic Smad7 protein staining, but in spinous and granular layers Smad7 was localized to the cell membrane. In situ hybridization showed strong Smad7 mRNA expression in almost all basal keratinocytes in erythematous oral lichen; by contrast, no or occasionally very weak Smad7 mRNA expression was seen in these cells in normal oral mucosa. The observations indicate that inhibition of the TGF-β/Smad pathway may account for the hyperproliferation of keratinocytes in erythematous oral lichen