2. Academic Validation
  3. Porphyromonas gingivalis-derived lipopolysaccharide confers chemotherapy resistance and migratory ability on oral cancer cells by activating toll-like receptor 4 signaling pathway

Porphyromonas gingivalis-derived lipopolysaccharide confers chemotherapy resistance and migratory ability on oral cancer cells by activating toll-like receptor 4 signaling pathway

  • Mol Biol Rep. 2026 Mar 27;53(1):551. doi: 10.1007/s11033-026-11713-1.
Yoshiteru Yamashita 1,  Hideo Shigeishi 2,  Sho Yokoyama 1,  Ryo Uetsuki 1,  Fumie Shiba 3,  Shigehiro Ono 1,  Kouji Ohta 4,  Tomonao Aikawa 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Program of Dentistry, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, 734-8553, Hiroshima, Japan.
  • 2 Department of Public Oral Health, Program of Oral Health Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, 734- 8553, Hiroshima, Japan. [email protected].
  • 3 Collaborative Research Laboratory of Oral Inflammation Regulation, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, 734-8553, Hiroshima, Japan.
  • 4 Department of Public Oral Health, Program of Oral Health Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, 734- 8553, Hiroshima, Japan.
PMID: 41894086 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-026-11713-1
Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study examined the Porphyromonas gingivalis-derived lipopolysaccharide (P. g-LPS)-activated-toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway and its association with resistance to chemotherapy in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: The OSCC cell lines OM-1 and HOC621 were used in this study. Cells were treated with P. g-LPS, TAK-242 as a TLR4 Inhibitor, SC75741 as a nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) inhibitor, and AH-6809 as a prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) receptor antagonist. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced cytotoxicity was investigated by measuring Lactate Dehydrogenase that leaked from damaged cells. 5-FU-induced cytotoxicity was attenuated by P. g-LPS in OM-1 cells and HOC621 cells, although this attenuation was relieved by TAK-242, TLR4 siRNA knockdown, or SC75741. P. g-LPS induced phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of NF-kB/p65, and enhanced cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) expression and PGE2 production in OM-1 cells. 5-FU-induced cytotoxicity was enhanced by AH-6809 in P. g-LPS-treated OM-1 cells. Furthermore, P. g-LPS-promoted cell migration was inhibited by TAK-242 or SC75741 in OM-1 cells. This study also involved an additional experiment focusing on CD44high OSCC cells. 5-FU-induced cytotoxicity was attenuated by P. g-LPS in amoeboid CD44high OM-1 cells when cultured on laminin-332-coated silicone gel. Additionally, P. g-LPS enhanced cofilin-1 dephosphorylation and cell protrusion in amoeboid CD44high OM-1 cells. CONCLUSIONS: P. g-LPS is involved in chemotherapy resistance of OM-1 cells by activating the TLR4/NF-kB pathway, which promotes the migratory ability of these cells, and enhancing PGE2 autocrine signaling. P. g-LPS plays a vital role in OSCC cells’ acquisition of a highly malignant phenotype.

Keywords

Porphyromonas gingivalis; Chemotherapy resistance; Lipopolysaccharide; Oral squamous cell carcinoma.

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