Gingival and dermal fibroblasts produce interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme and interleukin-1 beta but not interleukin-18 even after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide.

Epithelial cells play a critical role in periodontal disease through the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and interleukin-18 (IL-18). However, the role played by fibroblasts is still unclear. The rationale of this study was to throw light on the role of gingival fibroblasts in periodontal disease. We thus investigated the expression of IL-1 beta, IL-18, and ICE mRNA and the secretion of the corresponding proteins by human normal gingival fibroblasts before and after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Porphyromonas gingivalis and Escherichia coli. IL-1 beta, IL-18, and ICE mRNA expression was evaluated by RT-PCR. Proteins were analyzed by Western blot and ELISA. We demonstrated that gingival fibroblasts expressed ICE mRNA. Basal expression of ICE was modulated following cell stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (5 mug/ml). However, gingival fibroblasts expressed low levels of IL-1 beta mRNA. The expression was potentiated by LPS. The expression of IL-1 beta mRNA was followed by the secretion of IL-1 beta but not IL-18 protein. Our study suggests that fibroblasts may be involved in the defense against infections via an IL-1 beta-mediated but not an IL-18-mediated mechanism.