Keratinocyte-specific ablation of protease-activated receptor 2 prevents gingival inflammation and bone loss in a mouse model of periodontal disease

Abstract

Chronic periodontitis is characterised by gingival inflammation and alveolar bone loss. A major aetiological agent is Porphyromonas gingivalis, which secretes proteases that activate protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2). PAR2 expressed on oral keratinocytes is activated by proteases released by P. gingivalis, inducing secretion of interleukin 6 (IL-6), and global knockout of PAR2 prevents bone loss and inflammation in a periodontal disease model in mice. To test the hypothesis that PAR2 expressed on gingival keratinocytes is required for periodontal disease pathology, keratinocyte-specific PAR2-null mice were generated using K14-Cre targeted deletion of the PAR2 gene (F2rl1). These mice were..