Porphyromonas gingivalis Lipopolysaccharides Promote Proliferation and Migration of Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells through the MAPK/TLR4 Pathway.

Atherosclerosis is a major cause of mortality worldwide. The initial change in atherosclerosis is intimal thickening due to muscle cell proliferation and migration. A correlation has been observed between periodontal disease and atherosclerosis. Here, we investigated the proliferation and migration of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) using Porphyromonas gingivalis -derived LPS ( Pg -LPS). To elucidate intracellular signaling, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) of HASMCs were knocked down, and the role of these molecules in Pg -LPS-stimulated proliferation and migration was examined. The role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in HASMC proliferation and migration was further elucidated by MAPK inhibition. Pg -LPS stimulation increased the proliferation and migration of HASMCs and activated the TLR4/MyD88 pathway. TLR4 knockdown inhibited Pg -LPS stimulated HASMCs proliferation and migration. Pg -LPS stimulation led to the phosphorylation of P38 MAPK, JNK, and ERK, and MyD88 knockdown inhibited the phosphorylation of P38 MAPK and JNK but not ERK. P38 MAPK and SAPK/JNK inhibition did not suppress the proliferation of HASMCs upon Pg -LPS stimulation, but ERK inhibition significantly inhibited proliferation. SAPK/JNK and ERK inhibition suppressed Pg -LPS-stimulated migration of HASMCs. In conclusion, our findings suggest that Pg -LPS may promote atherosclerosis via the activation of MAPK through TLR4.