Influence of phase I periodontal therapy on levels of matrix metalloproteinase 1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1

ScRNA-Seq Analysis of Tongue Tissues in Chronic Hyperplastic Candidiasis

Chronic hyperplastic candidiasis (CHC) is a rare but severe subtype of oral candidiasis distinguished by its potential malignant transformation and suboptimal response to antifungal therapies. However, the cells and mechanisms that play key roles in this process remain unclear. Therefore, we performed the first single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of CHC-affected tongue tissues to reveal the microenvironmental changes and immunological etiology of CHC. First, the features of CHC lesions manifesting as thickening and hardening nodular lesions, including their pathological and microbiological characteristics, were elucidated. Then, a comprehensive cellular atlas and distinct immune landscape in CHC compared with healthy tissues were characterized using scRNA-seq, highlighting significant modifications in the cell number and functionality of fibroblasts and T/NK cells. Importantly, the central role of fibroblasts in cell-cell interactions in CHC was hinted, and possible ligand-receptor pairs mainly associated with inflammation and carcinogenesis were identified. Moreover, it was revealed that significant functional activation of fibroblasts, related to the activation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathways and increased expression of collagen I, matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1), and MMP2, could be a hallmark of CHC, correlating with CHC's clinical characteristics of tongue hardening and intense inflammation. Notably, there is sequencing evidence of the recruitment of CD8+Tex cells and activation of PD-1 and TIGIT immune checkpoint pathways. Moreover, cDC_LAMP3 cells exhibited high CD274 expression, suggesting immune exhaustion and an increased susceptibility to carcinogenesis. This pioneering study provides valuable insights into CHC pathogenesis and immune responses, enhancing our understanding of potential therapeutic strategies.

Comparative evaluation of semaphorin-4D, peptidylarginine deiminase-2, and matrix metalloproteinase-8 levels of gingival crevicular fluid in periodontally healthy and Stage III periodontitis smoker and non-smoker patients before and after non-surgical periodontal therapy

BACKGROUND

This study was designed to assess the influence of non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) on gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of semaphorin-4D (SEMA-4D), peptidylarginine deiminase-2 (PAD-2), and matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) levels in periodontally healthy, Stage III periodontitis non-smoker and smoker patients.

METHODS

Sixty patients were equally divided into three groups, Group I: Periodontally healthy, Group II: Non-smokers with Stage III periodontitis, and Group III: Smokers with Stage III periodontitis. The patients underwent NSPT with clinical and biochemical parameters examined at baseline and 3 months post therapy. GCF was collected for levels of SEMA-4D, PAD-2, and MMP-8 through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

Greater values of PPD (8.06 ± 0.19 mm), CAL (8.94 ± 0.19 mm), PI (2.58 ± 0.19) while lower PBI (1.39 ± 0.19%) and GI (1.72 ± 0.19) scores were seen in Group III as compared to Group II, which reduced significantly from baseline to 3 months in both the groups after NSPT. Minimum values of SEMA-4D, PAD-2, and MMP-8 levels in GCF were seen for Group I, which increased incrementally to Group II and III. Also, among Group II and III the SEMA-4D, PAD-2, and MMP-8 levels in GCF reduced from baseline to 3 months indicating a favorable response within the tissues.

CONCLUSION

Greater levels in GCF of Levels of SEMA-4D, PAD-2, and MMP-8 in Group II and III, which reduced significantly post NSPT, implied that these biomarkers play a pivotal role in the inflammatory process and can be utilized for early diagnosis.

Magnolia kobus Extract Inhibits Periodontitis-Inducing Mediators in Porphyromonas gingivalis Lipopolysaccharide-Activated RAW 264.7 Cells

Periodontitis, a disease caused by inflammation of oral bacteria, contributes to the loss of alveolar bone and destruction of connective tissues. Porphyromonas gingivalis, a Gram-negative bacterium, is known to possess important pathogenic factors for periodontal disease. In this study, we investigated the anti-periodontitis effects of Magnolia kobus extract (MKE) and magnolin as a component of Magnolia kobus (MK) in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Effects of MKE and magnolin on the mechanism of RAW 264.7 cellular inflammation were determined by analyzing nitric oxide (NO) production and Western blot protein expression (n = 3). MKE/magnolin inhibited NO production without affecting cell survival. MKE/magnolin treatment inhibited LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs such as MMP-1, 3, 8, 9, and 13), and protein levels of inflammatory mediators (such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and mPGES-1). MKE/magnolin also suppressed NF-κB activation by inhibiting the TLR4 signaling pathway. These findings suggest that MKE has a therapeutic effect on inflammatory periodontal disease caused by oral bacterium P. gingivalis and that magnolin is a major functional component in the anti-inflammatory effect of MKE.

Influence of Adjunctive Photodynamic Therapy on Interleukin-6, Interleukin-8, and Interleukin-10 Gingival Crevicular Fluid Levels in Chronic Periodontitis - A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background:

Numerous studies have assessed the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) both as a primary mode of treatment and as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in the treatment of periodontitis. Some results were nondefinitive and, in part, inconsistent with respect to the clinical and biochemical effects. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of PDT as an adjunct to nonsurgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) on the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and IL-10 levels in the treatment of chronic periodontitis (CP).

Materials and Methods:

In 21 patients with CP, two contralateral sites (premolar and molar) were randomly divided into: control sites (treated with NSPT only) and test sites (treated with NSPT + PDT). Clinical parameters including bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level were evaluated at baseline, 1- and 3 months and biochemical parameters of GCF levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were evaluated at baseline and 3-month post-therapy through enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay.

Results:

A greater improvement in BOP score at 1 month (41.10% ± 3.58%) and 3-months (38.00% ± 3.62%) posttherapy was found in the test site as compared to control site. Regarding cytokines, test sites exhibited significant reductions in IL-6 (4.29 ± 0.67 pg/ml) and IL-8 (308.16 ± 36.04 pg/ml) levels and increase in IL-10 (14.25 ± 0.83 pg/ml) level at 3 months (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion:

Additional application of PDT, adjunctive to NSPT, resulted in a significant reduction in BOP score as well as GCF pro-inflammatory cytokine levels along with an increase in anti-inflammatory cytokine levels, compared to NSPT alone.

Estimation and correlation of procalcitonin in saliva and serum of chronic periodontitis patients before and after nonsurgical periodontal therapy: An analytical comparative study

Background

Procalcitonin (ProCT) is an emerging inflammatory biomarker in bacterial infections. Few studies have reported raising salivary ProCT in periodontitis patients. Hence, the study aims to analyze and correlate the changes in saliva and serum ProCT in periodontitis patients before and after nonsurgical periodontal therapy.

Materials and Methods

We have included 15 chronic periodontitis patients of mean age 41.8 ± 6.82 years who satisfy the inclusion criteria in the study. After saliva and serum collection, clinical parameters such as plaque index, gingival index, gingival bleeding index, probing pocket depth, and clinical attachment were recorded, and scaling and root debridement were performed. Reevaluation was done at 1- and 3-month interval. ProCT was estimated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

Salivary ProCT was significantly greater than its serum counterpart at baseline and 1 month after periodontal therapy (0.20 vs. 0.26, 0.13 vs. 0.14 ng/ml respectively). We noticed a significant reduction in salivary as well as serum ProCT (35% and 46%, respectively) 1 month after scaling and root debridement. A significant moderate positive correlation was found between paired observations of salivary and serum ProCT at baseline as well as after periodontal therapy (r = 0.61 and 0.7). A further reduction of salivary ProCT was noticed 3 months after nonsurgical therapy (0.11 ng/ml).

Conclusions

Serum ProCT significantly decreases with periodontal treatment, indicating the impact of periodontal therapy on systemic inflammation. Since salivary ProCT is positively correlated with serum ProCT, we can consider it as an alternative biomarker to its serum counterpart.

Filifactor alocis and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Stimulate Synthesis of Visfatin by Human Macrophages

There is little known about the effect of the periodontopathogen Filifactor alocis on macrophages as key cells of the innate immune defense in the periodontium. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of F. alocis and additionally of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) on visfatin and other pro-inflammatory and proteolytic molecules associated with periodontitis in human macrophages. The presence of macrophage markers CD14, CD86, CD68, and CD163 was examined in gingival biopsies from healthy individuals and periodontitis patients. Human macrophages were incubated with F. alocis and TNFα for up to 2 d. The effects of both stimulants on macrophages were determined by real-time PCR, ELISA, immunocytochemistry, and immunofluorescence. F. alocis was able to significantly stimulate the synthesis of visfatin by human macrophages using TLR2 and MAPK pathways. In addition to visfatin, F. alocis was also able to increase the synthesis of cyclooxygenase 2, TNFα, and matrix metalloproteinase 1. Like F. alocis, TNFα was also able to stimulate the production of these proinflammatory and proteolytic molecules. Our results highlight the pathogenetic role of F. alocis in periodontal diseases and also underline the involvement of visfatin in the aetiopathogenesis of periodontitis.

Evaluation of the efficacy of lycopene gel compared with minocycline hydrochloride microspheres as an adjunct to nonsurgical periodontal treatment: A randomised clinical trial

Background/purpose

The prescription of antibiotics as an adjunct to mechanical periodontal therapy in patients with severe periodontitis is recommended; however, the side effects of antibiotics are a major concern. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of lycopene (Lyc) antioxidant gel versus minocycline hydrochloride microspheres (ARISTIN) as an adjunct to the nonsurgical treatment of periodontitis.

Materials and methods

Three identical periodontal pockets/patient received root surface debridement followed by the random application of either ARISTIN, Lyc, or placebo gel (control, Ctrl). Clinical parameters, plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth, and clinical attachment loss, were recorded at the baseline and after 30 days. Additionally, the levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8), matrix metallopeptidase 9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP1) in gingival crevicular fluid samples were assessed at the same time points.

Results

Twenty-three patients with periodontitis completed the study. Both ARISTIN and Lyc treatments showed significantly greater gains in attachment (1.94 ± 1.33 and 1.72 ± 0.88, respectively) than the Ctrl treatment (1.04 ± 0.96). Compared with those in the Ctrl, only ARISTIN showed a significant reduction in IL-8 level, whereas TIMP1 levels were significantly upregulated in the Lyc gel and ARISTIN sites. The effect size estimation indicated that Lyc gel exhibited considerably greater efficacy than the Ctrl gel.

Conclusion

Lyc gel and ARISTIN offer almost equal improvement in both clinical and biochemical parameters of periodontitis.

Regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-1 by Filifactor alocis in human gingival and monocytic cells

OBJECTIVES

Periodontitis is a highly prevalent chronic inflammatory disease caused by periodontopathogens, such as Filifactor alocis. This study sought to examine the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 synthesis by monocytic and fibroblastic cells in response to F. alocis and to unravel the underlying cellular mechanisms.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Gingival biopsies from periodontally healthy and periodontitis individuals were analyzed for the presence of F. alocis and MMP-1 by RT-PCR. Human gingival fibroblastic (HGF-1) and monocytic (THP-1) cells were stimulated with F. alocis in the presence and absence of a blocking toll-like receptor (TLR)2 antibody or specific inhibitors against MAPKs. MMP-1 expression and protein levels were studied by RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively.

RESULTS

F. alocis was highly prevalent in biopsies from periodontitis patients but barely present in the healthy gingiva. Significantly higher MMP-1 expression levels were found in the inflamed gingiva as compared with healthy biopsies. F. alocis caused a significant and dose-dependent MMP-1 upregulation in both cells. The stimulatory effect of F. alocis on MMP-1 was TLR2- and MAPK-dependent and more pronounced on THP-1 cells as compared with HGF-1 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that F. alocis and MMP-1 are more prevalent at periodontitis sites. Additionally, our study provides original evidence that F. alocis can stimulate MMP-1 production by fibroblastic and monocytic cells, suggesting that F. alocis may contribute to periodontal breakdown through MMP-1.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

F. alocis and MMP-1 are linked to each other and key players in periodontitis, which may have significant implications for future diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Effect of non-surgical periodontal treatment on gingival crevicular fluid and serum leptin levels in periodontally healthy chronic periodontitis and chronic periodontitis patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIM

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) on gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and serum leptin levels and glycemic status in periodontally healthy patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

Ninety patients were divided into three groups: periodontally healthy (group 1), CP (group 2) and CP with T2DM (group 3). The groups were evaluated for clinical parameters of probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), plaque index, gingival index, biochemical parameters of GCF, serum leptin levels, and glycemic status pre- and post-NSPT.

RESULTS

The baseline PPD and CAL for group 2 was 4.98 ± 0.49 mm and 5.35 ± 0.55 mm, respectively; for group 3 it was 5.60 ± 0.38 mm and 6.01 ± 0.38 mm, respectively. There was a considerable reduction in these parameters post-NSPT, with group 2 showing better resolution. Pretreatment serum leptin levels revealed increasing values from group 1 to group 3 and decreasing GCF values from group 3 to group 1, exhibiting an inverse relationship. Group 3 also showed an improvement in glycemic status post-NSPT.

CONCLUSION

NSPT was effective in improving clinical parameters, increasing GCF, reducing serum leptin levels, and also improving glycemic status in patients with CP and CP with T2DM.

MMP-2 and MMP-9 as prognostic markers for the early detection of urinary bladder cancer

The present study assessed protein and gene expression levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and MMP-9 in urine and blood samples of 50 patients with bladder carcinoma. The expression of TIMP-2, MMP-2, and MMP-9 levels with tumor stage and grade was also assessed. Results showed that the expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in both blood and urine were significantly elevated in group 1 when compared with groups 2 and 3 healthy subjects. The discriminatory ability in the diagnosis of bladder carcinoma of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression was confirmed by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis that revealed a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels were not correlated with grade or stage of the tumor. With respect to TIMP-2 blood and urine levels, results showed a significant decrease in gene expression levels in bladder carcinoma group, whereas, TIMP-2 protein showed a significant increase in bladder carcinoma.

Statin intake is associated with MMP-1 level in gingival crevicular fluid of patients with periodontitis

BACKGROUND

This study was conducted to assess whether statin intake is associated with clinical parameters of periodontitis and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of non-diabetic and diabetic patients.

METHODS

We first determined the effect of simvastatin on MMP expression in mononuclear cells. We then recruited 117 non-diabetic and diabetic patients, who all had periodontitis and took or did not take statin, and measured periodontal probing depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL), and collected gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) to quantify MMPs.

RESULTS

The in vitro studies showed that simvastatin potently inhibited the expression of MMP-1, MMP-8, and MMP-9 upregulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and high glucose in mononuclear cells. The patient study showed that, after adjusting for age and smoking status, PPD in diabetic patients on statin was significantly less than that in diabetic patients not on statin. MMP-1 level in GCF of non-diabetic and diabetic patients on statin was lower than that of non-diabetic and diabetic patients not on statin, respectively. No difference was found for MMP-8 and -9 levels in GCF.

CONCLUSION

Statin intake is associated with reduced PPD in diabetic patients and MMP-1 level in GCF in either non-diabetic or diabetic patients.