<i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i> lipopolysaccharide stimulates vascular smooth muscle cell migration through signal transducer and activator of transcription 3-mediated matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression

Periodontal diseases have been associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases. Accumulating evidences have indicated that Porphyromonas gingivalis , a major periodontopathic pathogen, plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In the present study, we demonstrated that P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increases the mRNA and protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in rat vascular smooth muscle...