AUTHORS :

MODELS : HGE / HUMAN GINGIVAL EPITHELIUM

APPLICATIONS : PERCUTANEOUS ABSORPTION Skin irritation SKIN IRRITATION OF CHEMICALS SKIN IRRITATION OF COSMETICS

2019 Nature
Institute of Biomedical and Environmental Health Research, School of Science and Sport, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, UK - Oral Sciences Research Group, Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK - Department of Life Sciences, School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK - Oral Healthcare R&D, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, Weybridge, UK

Biofilm-stimulated epithelium modulates the inflammatory responses in co-cultured immune cells

The gingival epithelium is a physical and immunological barrier to the microbiota of the oral cavity, which interact through soluble mediators with the immune cells that patrol the tissue at the gingival
epithelium. We sought to develop a three-dimensional gingivae-biofilm interface model using a commercially available gingival epithelium to study the tissue inflammatory response to oral biofilms
associated with “health”, “gingivitis” and “periodontitis”. These biofilms were developed by sequential addition of microorganisms to mimic the formation of supra- and sub-gingival plaque in vivo.

Secondly, to mimic the interactions between gingival epithelium and immune cells in vivo, we integrated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and CD14+ monocytes into our three-dimensional model and
were able to assess the inflammatory response in the immune cells cultured with and without gingival epithelium. We describe a differential inflammatory response in immune cells cultured with epithelial tissue, and more so following incubation with epithelium stimulated by “gingivitis-associated” biofilm.

These results suggest that gingival epithelium-derived soluble mediators may control the inflammatory status of immune cells in vitro, and therefore targeting of the epithelial response may offer novel
therapies. This multi-cellular interface model, both of microbial and host origin, offers a robust in vitro platform to investigate host-pathogens at the epithelial surface.