Interferon regulatory factor 6 promotes keratinocyte differentiation in response to Porphyromonas gingivalis

Abstract

We recently demonstrated that the expression of the interferon regulatory factor 6 (IRF6) transcription factor in oral keratinocytes was stimulated by the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis. Here, we have established that IRF6 promotes the differentiation of oral keratinocytes in response to P. gingivalis. This was evidenced by the IRF6-dependent upregulation of specific markers of keratinocyte terminal differentiation (e.g., involucrin [IVL] and keratin 13 [KRT13]), together with additional transcriptional regulators of keratinocyte differentiation, including Grainyheadlike 3 (GRHL3) and Ovo-like zinc finger 1 (OVOL1). We have previously established that the transactivator functi..