Hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α inhibits interleukin‐6 and ‐8 production in gingival epithelial cells during hypoxia

Background and Objective Hypoxia has been widely studied in inflammatory diseases as it can modulate the inflammatory response, mainly via the hypoxia‐inducible factor ( HIF ). However, little is known about the effects of hypoxia and the role of HIF in the inflammatory responses to periodontitis. In this study, we focused on the gingival epithelium that is exposed to relatively low levels of oxygen. We investigated whether hypoxic conditions have an impact on inflammatory responses in human gingival epithelial cells ( HGEC s). Material and Methods Pimonidazole HC l, which accumulates in hypoxic cells, was administered intraperitoneally to C57 BL /6 mice with or without Porphyromonas gingivalis infection. Immunohistochemistry was then performed to detect the hypoxic cells in periodontal tissue. Immortalized HGEC s were cultured under hypoxic conditions with or without interleukin ( IL )‐1β, and the expression levels of IL ‐6 and IL ‐8 were measured by real‐time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. HIF ‐1α expression was detected by western blotting. The DNA ‐binding activity of HIF ‐1α was determined by a DNA ‐binding enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The involvement of HIF ‐1α in the hypoxic response was examined by transfection with HIF ‐1α si RNA . Results Immunohistochemistry revealed pimonidazole HC l accumulation in the gingival epithelium of both normal and P. gingivalis ‐infected mice, with a slightly stronger signal in the P. gingivalis ‐infected mice than in the normal mice. The IL ‐1β‐induced IL ‐6 and IL ‐8 production by HGEC s was suppressed under hypoxic conditions. HIF ‐1α accumulated during hypoxia, and this accumulation was further enhanced by IL ‐1β treatment. The hypoxia‐dependent suppression of IL ‐6 and IL ‐8 expression was reversed by treating the cells with HIF ‐1α si RNA . Conclusion Our results suggest that the gingival epithelium is exposed to low oxygen tension in periodontal tissue and that this hypoxic condition modulates the local inflammatory response of gingival epithelial cells in an HIF ‐1α‐dependent manner.