Investigation of stress response system mediated by HPA-axis in periodontitis

下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴（HPA轴）是机体对生理应激的主要反应系统。这个系统的最后一种生产物质是皮质醇。据报道，皮质醇存在于唾液和龈沟液中。近年来研究表明，HPA轴组分和蛋白质的mRNA在多种外周组织中均有表达。本研究旨在探讨牙周组织中是否存在HPA轴样系统。（1）人牙周组织培养细胞中存在促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素（CRH）、CRH受体1（CRHR 1）、阿黑皮素原（POMC）、激素原转化酶-1（PC-1）、促肾上腺皮质激素受体（ACTHR）和CYP 11 A1的mRNA。（2）培养的人牙龈成纤维细胞和角质形成细胞分泌CRH和ACTH。（3）CRH和ACTH在牙周组织中的免疫组化染色结果显示：CRH和ACTH在牙周组织中呈阳性表达;牙周病患者牙周组织的阳性反应强于健康志愿者，提示牙周组织存在应激反应系统，该系统可能在牙周炎局部起作用

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis (HPA-axis) is the main response system for physiological stress. The last productive material of this system is cortisol. It has been reported that cortisol is in saliva and gingival crevicular fluid. And recently, it has been demonstrated that mRNA for HPA-axis components and protein in various peripheral tissues. In this study, we investigated whether there is HPA-axis like system in periodontal tissue or not.(1)mRNA for Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), CRH receptor 1 (CRHR1), Proopiomelanocortin (POMC), Prohormone convertase-1 (PC-1), Adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor (ACTHR) and CYP11A1 were demonstrated in culture cells from human periodontal tissue.(2)CRH and ACTH were produced by cultured human gingival fibroblasts and keratinocytes.(3)CRH and ACTH were observed immunohistocemically in periodontal tissue. Positive reaction in tissue from periodontal patients were stronger than from healthy volunteers.These results suggest that there is stress response system at the site of periodontal tissue and this system may work in the periodontitis locally