Decorin, a small dermatan sulfate proteoglycan, binds to collagen, and is known to re-lated to fibrillogenesis. To elucidate the fluctuation of decorin mRNA during the process of inflammation, we examined its expression in cultured human gingival fibroblasts stimulated by interluekin(IL)-1β. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-3, type I collagen and IL-6 mRNA expression were also determined. The effects of IL-1β on the expres-sion of decorin and type I collagen mRNA were similar to each other. Their mRNA ex-pression levels compared with controls were increased with culture time up to 24 h, fol-lowed by a decrease to 48 h. Although the mRNA levels of MMP-3 and IL-6 were trace in controls, they increased markedly by stimulation of IL-1β. These results indicate that gingival fibroblasts stimulated by IL-1β actively express IL-6 mRNA as an early event of inflammation, followed by decorin, type I collagen and MMP-3, which are associated with collagen fibrils, in events coexisting with destruction and repair.
Key words:Decorin; Proteoglycan; Gingival fibroblasts