Ncor1 Deficiency Promotes Osteoclastogenesis and Exacerbates Periodontitis

Masticatory Stress Maintains Mucosal Homeostasis via M2 Polarization

In addition to breaking down food, mastication plays regulatory roles in tissue homeostasis. During mastication, the oral mucosa is subjected to masticatory stress, and the maintenance between mucosal damage and repair is a key process. Despite rapid healing in the oral mucosa during chewing, the molecular mechanisms underlying repair remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the impact of masticatory stress on masticatory mucosal wound healing. Our data showed that reduced masticatory stress on the oral mucosa in mice fed a soft food diet resulted in decelerated hard palate mucosal wound healing and decreased numbers of Ki67-positive cells as compared with the hard food diet group. An RNA sequencing analysis revealed lower expression levels of the mechanosensitive gene Piezo1 in the hard palate mucosa, as well as lower levels of transforming growth factor β1 (Tgf-β1) and Tgf-β receptor 2 (Tgf-βr2), in the soft food diet group than the hard food diet group. Immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry, and polymerase chain reaction analyses demonstrated that masticatory stress induced M2 polarization of macrophages surrounding the wound in the hard food diet group, leading to increased Tgf-β1 secretion. The specific deletion of Piezo1 in macrophages (Piezo1DLysm) attenuated masticatory stress-induced accelerated healing in mice. These findings reveal the crucial role of masticatory stress-induced Piezo1 expression in tissue repair, potentially influencing M2 polarization of mucosal macrophages and Tgf-β1 secretion. These findings underscore the pivotal role of physical stimulation in the immune response and tissue repair and may provide important insights into therapeutic interventions for tissue repair.

Extracellular vesicles derived from dental follicle stem cells regulate tooth eruption by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation

Tooth eruption as a crucial part in tooth development and regeneration is accompanied by ongoing osteogenesis and osteoclast activity. The dental follicle (DF) surrounding the developing tooth harbors dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs) which play a crucial role in maintaining bone remodeling. However, the mechanisms through which they regulate the balance between osteogenesis and osteoclast activity during tooth eruption remain poorly understood. Notably, extracellular vesicles (EVs) in bone homeostasis are considered essential. Our study revealed that the DFSCs could modulate tooth eruption by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation via EVs. Further investigation showed that EVs from DFSCs could inhibit osteoclast differentiation through the ANXA1-PPARγ-CEBPα pathway. Animal experiments indicated that EVs from DFSCs and the cargo ANXA1 affected tooth eruption. In summary, this study suggests the critical role of the dental follicle in tooth eruption through EVs, which may provide therapeutic targets for abnormal tooth eruption and effective approaches for the eruption of regenerated teeth.

Mesaconate from Bacillus subtilis R0179 Supernatant Attenuates Periodontitis by Inhibiting Porphyromonas gingivalis in Mice

AIMS

This research sought to assess the efficacy of Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) R0179 and explore potential metabolites in mitigating experimental periodontitis in mice induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) ATCC 33277.

METHODS

B. subtilis R0179 was administered to 8-week-old male C57BL/6J mice with periodontitis. Oral load of P. gingivalis ATCC 33277 and periodontal tissue loss were quantified. The cell-free supernatant (CFS) was separated to assess its anti-P. gingivalis effect. Proteomic and metabolomic analyses identified potential antibacterial components in the CFS, further evaluated for anti-P. gingivalis effects.

RESULTS

B. subtilis R0179 significantly reduced P. gingivalis ATCC 33277 levels and mitigated periodontal tissue loss in mice. The CFS, rather than inactivated B. subtilis R0179 cells, exhibited antibacterial activity. Proteomic and metabolomic analyses identified mesaconate and citraconate as key antibacterial agents. Disk diffusion assays confirmed the efficacy of mesaconate against P. gingivalis, while citraconate had no effect. Mesaconate showed a dose-dependent reduction in P. gingivalis ATCC 33277 population and periodontal tissue loss in mice.

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight B. subtilis R0179 and its metabolite mesaconate as promising candidates for therapeutic development against periodontitis by inhibiting P. gingivalis ATCC 33277 effectively.

Capsaicin attenuates Porphyromonas gingivalis-suppressed osteogenesis of periodontal ligament stem cells via regulating mitochondrial function and activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Prevention of periodontal bone resorption triggered by Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is crucial for dental stability. Capsaicin, known as the pungent ingredient of chili peppers, can activate key signaling molecules involved in osteogenic process. However, the effect of capsaicin on osteogenesis of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) under inflammation remains elusive.

METHODS

P. gingivalis culture suspension was added to mimic the inflammatory status after capsaicin pretreatment. The effects of capsaicin on the osteogenesis of PDLSCs, as well as mitochondrial morphology, Ca2+ level, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and osteogenesis-regulated protein expression levels were analyzed. Furthermore, a mouse experimental periodontitis model was established to evaluate the effect of capsaicin on alveolar bone resorption and the expression of osteogenesis-related proteins.

RESULTS

Under P. gingivalis stimulation, capsaicin increased osteogenesis of PDLSCs. Not surprisingly, capsaicin rescued the damage to mitochondrial morphology, decreased the concentration of intracellular Ca2+ and ROS, enhanced MMP and activated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. The in vivo results showed that capsaicin significantly attenuated alveolar bone loss and augmented the expression of bone associated proteins.

CONCLUSION

Capsaicin increases osteogenesis of PDLSCs under inflammation and reduces alveolar bone resorption in mouse experimental periodontitis.

Periodontitis exacerbates pulmonary hypertension by promoting IFNγ+ T cell infiltration in mice

Uncovering the risk factors of pulmonary hypertension and its mechanisms is crucial for the prevention and treatment of the disease. In the current study, we showed that experimental periodontitis, which was established by ligation of molars followed by orally smearing subgingival plaques from patients with periodontitis, exacerbated hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in mice. Mechanistically, periodontitis dysregulated the pulmonary microbiota by promoting ectopic colonization and enrichment of oral bacteria in the lungs, contributing to pulmonary infiltration of interferon gamma positive (IFNγ+) T cells and aggravating the progression of pulmonary hypertension. In addition, we identified Prevotella zoogleoformans as the critical periodontitis-associated bacterium driving the exacerbation of pulmonary hypertension by periodontitis, and the exacerbation was potently ameliorated by both cervical lymph node excision and IFNγ neutralizing antibodies. Our study suggests a proof of concept that the combined prevention and treatment of periodontitis and pulmonary hypertension are necessary.

Microglia nuclear receptor corepressor 1 deficiency alleviates neuroinflammation in mice

Given the established role of nuclear receptor corepressor 1 (NCoR1) in sensing environmental cues and the importance of inflammation in neurodegenerative diseases, elucidation of NCoR1 involvement in neuroinflammation has notable implications. Yet, its regulatory mechanism remains largely unclear. Under in vitro conditions, NCoR1 expression peaked and then decreased at 12 h after lipopolysaccharides (LPS) stimulation in BV2 cells, However, NCoR1 knockdown using si-RNA attenuated microglial inflammation, evident by reduced the levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), phosphorylated-JNK and high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1). Furthermore, NCoR1 suppression could counteract the decline in mitochondrial membrane potential while simultaneously enhancing the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α). Under in vivo conditions, microglia-specific NCoR1 knockout (MNKO) mice after LPS injections alleviated the symptoms of anhedonia, diminished autonomic activity and cognitive impairment. Additionally, MNKO mice showed attenuation of microglial activation, downregulated HMGB1 and COX2, and upregulated PGC-1α expression in the cortex. In conclusion, these findings suggest that NCoR1 deficiency leads to a modest reduction in neuroinflammation, possibly attributed to the increased expression of PGC-1α.

Nuclear receptor corepressor 1 deficiency exacerbates asthma by modulating macrophage polarization

Macrophage polarization plays an important role in asthma. Nuclear receptor corepressor 1 (NCOR1) plays an important role in metabolic and cardiovascular diseases by regulating the function of macrophages. The aim of this research was to examine the role and mechanism of macrophage NCOR1 in the development of asthma. We used ovalbumin (OVA) to induce macrophage NCOR1-deficient mice for asthma formation. Our results revealed that macrophage NCOR1 deficiency markedly enhanced allergic airway inflammation. In addition, NCOR1 deficiency in macrophages was found to enhance M2 polarization. Mechanistic studies suggested that NCOR1 promoted macrophage polarization by interacting with PPARγ, contributing to the pathogenesis of asthma. In conclusion, macrophage NCOR1 deficiency promoted the regulation of M2 programming by enhancing PPARγ expression to exacerbate asthma. Macrophage NCOR1 might be a potential target for the treatment of asthma.

Knockdown of SIRT3 perturbs protective effects of irisin against bone loss in diabetes and periodontitis

A well-recognized risk factor for periodontitis, diabetes mellitus (DM) aggravates periodontal disease with increasing alveolar bone loss. As a novel myokine, irisin is closely linked with bone metabolism. Nonetheless, the effects of irisin on periodontitis under diabetic conditions and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we showed that local irisin treatment ameliorates alveolar bone loss and oxidative stress, increases SIRT3 expression within periodontal tissues of our experimentally-induced diabetes and periodontitis (DP) rat models. By culturing the periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) in vitro, we found that irisin could partially rescue inhibited cell viability, mitigate accumulated intracellular oxidative stress, ameliorate mitochondrial dysfunctions, and restore disturbed osteogenic and osteoclastogenic capacities of PDLCs when exposed to high glucose and pro-inflammatory stimulation. Furthermore, lentivirus-mediated SIRT3 knockdown was employed to unravel the underlying mechanism by which SIRT3 mediated irisin's beneficial effects on PDLCs. Meanwhile, in SIRT3-deficient mice, irisin treatment did not protect against alveolar bone destruction and oxidative stress accumulation in DP models, which underlined the crucial role of SIRT3 in mediating the positive effects of irisin on DP. Our findings, for the first time, revealed that irisin attenuates alveolar bone loss and oxidative stress via activation of the SIRT3 signaling cascade, and highlighted its therapeutic potential for the treatment of DP.