This study was investigated to observe the effect of Treponema denticola cell sonicates(TDC) and Treponema lecithinolyticum cell sonicates(TLC) on cytokine secretion and matix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2) activation of cultured human gingival fibroblast. Several experiments were performed including IL-1β, IL-6 ELISA for the effect on the IL-1β, IL-6 secretion of human gingival fibroblast. Also gelatinase zymography and gelatin dissolubility test for the activation of MMP-2 secreted by gingival fibroblast. The results were as follows.

The effect of TDC and TLC on IL-6 secretion of human gingival fibroblast showed statistically significant increase of IL-6 secretion in the TDC and TLC treated group compared to no treatment group(p<0.05).

The amount of IL-1β secretion was below the lower limit and there was no difference in the IL-1β secretion of gingival fibroblast between TDC, TLC treated group and no treatment group.

The active form of pro MMP-2 with 72 kDa molecular weight was activated in both TDC and TLC treated group and clear band was appeared at 62kDa site on the zymography.

Gelatin dissolubility of MMP-2 secreted by gingival fibroblast was higher in TDC and TLC treated group compared to no treatment group(p<0.05).

In the TDC treated group, serine protease of T. denticola affect gelatin dissolubility. But in the TLC treated group gelatin was degraded by only MMP secreted by gingival fibroblast.

Regarding to the above results, TDC and TLC have an effect on the IL-6 secretion increase of human gingival fibroblast and appears to activate pro MMP-2 which degrades collagen.