Fig 1: P. gingivalis-LPS induces neuroinflammatory markers via caspase-4 activation in SH-SY5Y cells. Relative mRNA expression of neuroinflammatory markers, including (A) T-Tau (Total Tau), (B) VEGF, (C) TGF-β, (D) TNF-α, and (E) IL-6, was significantly increased following P. gingivalis-LPS treatment and reversed by caspase-4 silencing using siRNA (n = 3). (F,G) ELISA analysis of phosphorylated tau at T181 and T217 in response to P. gingivalis-LPS treatment along with caspase-4 siRNA, and a caspase-4 inhibitor, Ac-LEVD-CHO (n = 4). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM and represent at least three independent experiments. Statistical significance is indicated as follows: ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001; **** p < 0.0001 determined by one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test.