Porphyromonas gingivalis triggers the shedding of inflammatory endothelial microvesicles that act as autocrine effectors of endothelial dysfunction

A link between periodontitis and atherothrombosis has been highlighted. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of Porphyromonas gingivalis on endothelial microvesicles (EMV Pg ) shedding and their contribution to endothelial inflammation. Endothelial cells (EC) were infected with P. gingivalis (MOI = 100) for 24 h. EMV Pg were isolated and their concentration was evaluated by prothrombinase assay. EMV Pg were significantly increased in comparison with EMV Ctrl shedded by unstimulated cells. While EMV Ctrl from untreated EC had no effect, whereas, the proportion of apoptotic EC was increased by 30 nM EMV Pg and viability was decreased down to 25%, a value elicited by P. gingivalis alone. Moreover, high concentration of EMV Pg (30 nM) induced a pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidative cell response including up-regulation of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 as well as an altered expression of iNOS and eNOS at both mRNA and protein level. An increase of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 mRNA expression (4.5 folds and 3 folds respectively ( p < 0.05 vs untreated) was also observed after EMV Pg (30 nM) stimulation whereas P. gingivalis infection was less effective, suggesting a specific triggering by EMV Pg . Kinasome analysis demonstrated the specific effect induced by EMV Pg on main pro-inflammatory pathways including JNK/AKT and STAT. EMV Pg are effective pro-inflammatory effectors that may have detrimental effect on vascular homeostasis and should be considered as potential autocrine and paracrine effectors involved in the link between periodontitis and atherothrombosis.