Objective: The molecular mechanism underlying oral mucosa inflammation remains unknown.Aim: The aim of our study is to explore the influence of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in regulating oral mucosa viability and inflammation response.Methods: Oral mucosa epithelium was treated with IL-2. Cell viability and death were determined via 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromidefo (MTT) assay and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, respectively. Inflammation response was measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to verify the alterations of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway.Results: IL-2 treatment induced a loss of cell viability in oral mucosa. Besides, inflammatory factors transcription and expression were significantly elevated in response to IL-2 treatment. In addition, oxidative stress and cell apoptosis were also augmented by IL-2 treatment. Mechanistically, IL-2 treatment was associated with an activation of the NF-ĸB pathway. Inhibition of NF-ĸB pathway could abolish the promotive effects exerted by IL-2 on oral mucosa death and inflammation response.Conclusion: Taken together, our results demonstrated that IL-2 treatment activated NF-ĸB pathway and then promoted oral mucosa inflammation, leading to intracellular oxidative stress and cell apoptosis.
Keywords: IL-2; NF-ĸB pathway; inflammation; oral mucosa.