{"entity": "researcher", "timestamp": "2026-10-08T09:48:24.977Z", "family": "Neves Guimaraes", "given": "Alessandra", "initials": "A", "orcid": "0000-0002-1291-6492", "affiliations": ["Department of Odontological Research, Public Dental Service, Faculty of Medicine and Health, \u00d6rebro University, 701 82 \u00d6rebro, Sweden.", "Department of Periodontology and Implantology, Public Dental Service, Faculty of Medicine and Health, \u00d6rebro University, 701 82 \u00d6rebro, Sweden."], "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/4cb4149b660e4e2d83857c316b789e08.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/4cb4149b660e4e2d83857c316b789e08"}}, "publications": [{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "7da5d2be4acf47fa8c81d9873c0265e5", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/publication/7da5d2be4acf47fa8c81d9873c0265e5.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/publication/7da5d2be4acf47fa8c81d9873c0265e5"}}, "title": "The Role of Caspase-1 and Caspase-4 in Modulating Gingival Epithelial Cell Responses to Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans Infection.", "authors": [{"family": "Demirel", "given": "Kartheyaene Jayaprakash", "initials": "KJ"}, {"family": "Neves Guimaraes", "given": "Alessandra", "initials": "A", "orcid": "0000-0002-1291-6492", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/4cb4149b660e4e2d83857c316b789e08.json"}}, {"family": "Demirel", "given": "Isak", "initials": "I"}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2025-03-18", "journal": {"title": "Pathogens", "issn": "2076-0817", "volume": "14", "issue": "3", "issn-l": null}, "abstract": "Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by bacterial infection and immune dysregulation. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans) is a key pathogen linked to disease progression. Caspase-1 and caspase-4 regulate inflammasome activation and cytokine release, yet their roles in gingival epithelial immunity remain unclear. The aim of this study was to elucidate the involvement of caspase-1 and caspase-4 in regulating the immune response to A. actinomycetemcomitans infection in gingival epithelial cells. Human gingival epithelial cells (Ca9-22) and caspase-1- and caspase-4-deficient cells were infected with A. actinomycetemcomitans for 24 h. Inflammatory mediator release was analyzed using Olink proteomics. Bacterial colonization and invasion were assessed using fluorescence-based assays and gentamicin protection assays. Caspase-1- and caspase-4-deficient cells showed significantly altered cytokine and chemokine profiles after infection with A. actinomycetemcomitans, showing reduced IL-17C and IL-18 release. We also found an increased release of TGF-\u03b1 and LIF from caspase-4-deficient cells, along with elevated levels of the chemokines IL-8, CXCL9, and CXCL10. Additionally, both caspase-1- and caspase-4-deficient cells showed increased bacterial colonization and invasion, particularly in caspase-4-deficient cells. These findings suggest that caspase-1 and caspase-4 play distinct yet essential roles in gingival epithelial immunity, regulating cytokine release, barrier integrity, and defense against A. actinomycetemcomitans colonization.", "doi": "10.3390/pathogens14030295", "pmid": "40137780", "labels": {"Affinity Proteomics Uppsala": "Service"}, "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC11945752"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "pathogens14030295"}], "notes": [], "created": "2025-11-25T19:23:06.594Z", "modified": "2025-11-25T19:23:06.649Z"}]}