Gingipain injection affects intestinal oxidant-antioxidant status and alkaline phosphatase in overfed zebrafish

Abstract

Objective: Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a major periodontopathogen, is associated with overfeeding disorders, including metabolic syndrome. Gingipains are one of the most powerful endotoxins of P. gingivalis. Our aim was to reveal the effects of gingipain injections on the intestinal oxidant-antioxidant status and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in overfed zebrafish. Materials and Methods: Four groups of healthy adult zebrafish were placed in random tanks as C: Control (n=15); GP: Gingipain (n=15); OF: Overfeeding (n=15); and OF+GP: Overfeeding+Gingipain (n=15) groups. At the end of the experiment, levels of intestinal lipid peroxidation (LPO) and ALP, glutathione S-transferase (GST), and catalase (CAT) activities were evaluated. Results: Intestinal LPO was significantly lower in the GP and OF groups compared to C. Gingipain injection in OF (OF+GP) significantly elevated LPO when compared to C, GP, and OF groups. ALP activities decreased significantly in the GP, OF, and OF+GP compared to C. GST activities increased significantly in the GP when compared to C. Decreased GST activities were observed in the OF and OF+GP. This decrease was less in OF+GP. CAT activities significantly decreased in all groups when compared to C. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that gingipain injection alters the ALP activity and intestinal oxidant-antioxidant status in overfed zebrafish.