Journal of Jilin University(Medicine Edition) ›› 2019, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (06): 1334-1339.doi: 10.13481/j.1671-587x.20190624

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Levels of serum melatonin in rats with pulpitis and its inhibitory effect on dental inflammation

HAN Yaolun, WANG Lu, MA Xin   

  1. Department of Stomatology, People's Hospital, Henan Province, Zhengzhou 450003, China
  • Received:2019-02-16 Online:2019-12-05 Published:2019-12-05

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effect of serum melatonin level in the rats with pulpitis on the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3/cysteine-containing aspartate proteolytic enzyme 1 (NLRP3/caspase-1) signaling pathway,and to explore the mechanism of the effect of melatonin on pulpitis. Methods: A total of 130 rats were divided into control group (n=40),pulpitis group (n=60) and pulpitis+melatonin group (n=30).Thirty rats with pulpitis were randomly divided into pulpitis 1 d group,pulpitis 3 d group and pulpitis 5 d group.The pulpitis rat model was established by pulpotomy exposure method, and the rats in pulpitis+melatonin group were intraperitoneally injected with melatonin after intramedullary surgery.HE staining was used to confirm the modeling of pulpitis;the serum levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and melatonin and the levels of IL-1β in dental pulp tissue of the rats in various groups were detected by ELISA method, the expresion levels of NLRP3 and caspase-1 mRNA in dental pulp tissue of the rats in various groups were detected by RT-PCR method,and the expression levels of NLRP3 and caspase-1 proteins in dental pulp tissue of the rats in various groups were detected by Western blotting method. Results: The HE staining results showed that in control group,the dental pulp tissue of the rats was normal;in pulpitis group,the cavities in the dental pulp and a large number of inflammatory cells were found.The serum IL-1β levels of the rats in pulpitis 1 d group and pulpitis 3 d group were obviously higher than those in control group (P<0.05),and the serum melatonin levels were obviously lower than those in control group (P<0.05);the serum IL-1β level of the rats in pulpitis 3 d group was obviously lower than that in pulpitis 1 d group (P<0.05),and the serum melatonin level was obviously higher than that in pulpitis 1 d group (P<0.05).The levels of IL-1β in dental pulp tissue of the rats in pulpitis group and pulpitis+melatonin group were obviously higher than those in control group (P<0.05),the level of IL-1β in dental pulp tissue of the rats in pulpitis+melatonin group was obviously lower than that in pulpitis group (P<0.05). The expression levels of NLRP3 and caspase-1 mRNA and proteins in dental pulp tissue of the rats in pulpitis group and pulpitis+ melatonin group were obviously higher than those in control group (P<0.05),and the levels of NLRP3 and caspase-1 mRNA and proteins in dental pulp tissue of the rats in pulpitis+melatonin group were obviously lower than those in pulpitis group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The serum melatonin level in the rats with pulpitis is reduced,and melatonin can reduce the inflammatory response in dental pulp tissue of the rats with pulpitis by inhibiting NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathway.

Key words: pulpitis, melatonin, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor proein 3, cysteine-containing aspartate proteolytic enzyme 1, interleukin-1β

CLC Number: 

  • R781.3