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Updated: Dec 10, 2025
Isolation, Processing and Analysis of Murine Gingival Cells
Published on: July 2, 2013
Integrative mRNA/miRNA expression analysis in healing human gingiva
Yun Wang1, Dimitris N Tatakis1
1Division of Periodontology, College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Background:
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in the epigenetic regulation of complex biological processes. Their possible role in human oral wound healing, a process that differs from cutaneous wound healing by being faster and typically scar-free, has been unexplored. This report presents the miRNA expression profile of experimental human oral wounds and an integrative analysis of mRNA/miRNA expression.
Methods:
Nine healthy volunteers provided standardized normal and 5-day healing palatal biopsies, used for next generation miRNA and mRNA sequencing analysis, correlation and network analysis, real-time PCR (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry.
Results:
On average, 169 significantly regulated precursor miRNAs were detected, including 21 novel miRNAs, selectively confirmed by PCR. Hsa-miR-223-3p and hsa-miR-124-3p were, respectively, the most up- and downregulated miRNAs in healing gingiva. Hsa-miR-124-3p had the most predicted mRNA target interactions, with angiogenesis-related genes the most enriched. Correlation analysis showed the highest correlation between hsa-miR-181a-3p and SERPINB1; hsa-miR-223-5p and SLC2A3; hsa-miR-1301 and MS4A7. In addition, SERPINB1 mRNA had the most associations with differentially regulated miRNAs. IL33 was the only cytokine significantly correlated with miRNAs (ρ > 0.95). qPCR and immunohistochemistry verified the significant upregulation of SERPINB1 and IL33 in healing gingiva.
Conclusions:
This study is the first to report on the miRNome of healing human gingiva and to provide an integrative analysis of miRNA/mRNA expression during human oral wound healing; the results offer novel insights into the participating molecular mechanisms and raise the possibility of SERPINB1 and IL-33 as potential wound healing therapeutic targets.
Insights
This study reveals microRNA (miRNA) profiles in human oral wound healing, identifying key molecules like SERPINB1 and IL-33 as potential therapeutic targets for faster, scar-free healing.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
- Epigenetics
Background:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate biological processes, but their role in human oral wound healing remains unexplored.
- Oral wound healing is distinct from skin healing, characterized by speed and minimal scarring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the miRNA expression profile in experimental human oral wounds.
- To perform an integrative analysis of mRNA and miRNA expression during oral wound healing.
Main Methods:
- Biopsies from human palatal wounds at 5 days of healing were analyzed using next-generation sequencing for miRNA and mRNA.
- Correlation and network analyses, real-time PCR (qPCR), and immunohistochemistry were employed.
Main Results:
- 169 significantly regulated precursor miRNAs, including 21 novel ones, were detected.
- Hsa-miR-223-3p and hsa-miR-124-3p were the most upregulated and downregulated miRNAs, respectively.
- SERPINB1 and IL33 were significantly upregulated and correlated with specific miRNAs, suggesting their involvement in healing.
Conclusions:
- This is the first report on the miRNome of human gingival healing with integrated miRNA/mRNA analysis.
- Findings provide novel insights into molecular mechanisms of oral wound healing.
- SERPINB1 and IL-33 are identified as potential therapeutic targets for enhancing oral wound healing.
