LAUSR

OBJECTIVES NF-κB plays a crucial role in collagen overproduction in dihydropyridine-induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO) fibroblasts. We aim to investigate the role of the kappa B (IκB) kinase (IKK)-NF-κB pathway and downstream collagen type I (Col I) synthesis in DIGO cells and to demonstrate the therapeutic strategy of interference of this pathway with proteasome inhibitors. METHODS Gingival fibroblasts from DIGO (n = 5) and healthy (n = 5) patients were selected and stimulated with IL-1β, nifedipine or both. All experiments were run in triplicate and independently for each primary cell sample. RESULTS The results demonstrated that both drugs additively mediated NF-κB activity by activating IKKα/β phosphorylation. They also triggered nuclear translocation of NF-κB, Rela and p50 (*p < .05) and increased Col I production in both healthy and DIGO cells. The addition of proteasome inhibitors, including bortezomib and MG132, promoted the accumulation of phosphorylated p-IκBα, prevented the subsequent cytosol-to-nuclear translocation of p50 and Rela (*p < .05), and abbreviated the biosynthesis of Col I in DIGO cells. CONCLUSIONS We suggested that IKK-IκBα activation is mediated by proinflammatory cytokines and CCBs in DIGO cells and triggers downstream NF-κB-Col I synthesis. Proteasome inhibitors may strategically interfere with the IKK-IκBα-NF-κB-Col I pathway and inhibit the etiopathogenesis of DIGO.