Direct and indirect effects of Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide on interleukin-6 production by human gingival fibroblasts.

We examined the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) by human gingival fibroblasts (ATCC CRL 1292) stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Porphyromonas gingivalis and Escherichia coli, or supernatant of human peripheral blood adherent cell culture medium incubated in the presence of IL-1 and the same two LPS. Confluent monolayers of gingival fibroblasts were incubated with stimulants for 6 h at 37 degrees C in 5% CO2 and air. After removal of stimulants, the cell cultures were incubated for an additional 2 or 24 h in the same environment. At the end of the culture period, supernatants were collected and assayed for IL-6 activity by stimulatory IgG production with the human B-lymphoblastoid cell line CESS. The direct effect of LPS on IL-6 production by gingival fibroblasts was much weaker than the indirect one via IL-1 production by adherent cells. The stimulating effect of culture supernatants of adherent cells stimulated with LPS on IL-6 production by gingival fibroblasts was as effective as that of recombinant IL-1, when this latter was added at a concentration equivalent to that contained in the culture supernatant of adherent cells. These results suggest that, although gingival fibroblasts may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic periodontal disease by the production of cytokines, such a role may not result from a direct stimulation by periodontopathic bacteria. The phenomenon is more likely to be mediated indirectly by IL-1 produced by infiltrating inflammatory cells.