Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effect of wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway on expressions of EMMPRIN, MMP-2, and MMP-9 by individual culture or co-culture human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs)and human immortalized oral epithelial cells (HIOEC). Methods: Immunofluorescence staining was used to determinethe expression of β-catenin. Dickkopf-1(DKK-1) and wnt3a were respectively used as inhibitor and activator of wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to stimulate HGFs and co-culture model.The expressions of relevant indicators in cells and supernatant were detected by western blot, Real-time PCR, and gelatin zymography. Results: The level ofβ-catenin was much higher in HIOEC than HGFs. When thewnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was suppressed, the levels of EMMPRIN, MMP-2, and MMP-9 increased (P＜0.05). On the contrary, when this signaling pathway was activated, the result was opposite (P＜0.05). Conclusion: Co-culture model is a proper method in this experiment, and the expressions of EMMPRIN, MMP-2, and MMP-9 were effectively decreased by activation of wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Key words: Co-culture, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, EMMPRIN, MMPs