Oral Microbiome and Gingival Tissue Apoptosis and Autophagy Transcriptomics

Area of Science:

• Oral microbiology
• Molecular biology
• Periodontal disease pathogenesis

Background:

• Periodontitis involves complex interactions between the oral microbiome and host immune responses.
• Apoptotic and autophagic pathways are crucial in regulating cellular homeostasis and inflammation.
• Understanding the interplay between specific bacteria and these host pathways is vital for periodontitis research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize gingival transcriptome changes during periodontitis, focusing on apoptosis and autophagy.
• To identify oral microbiome features associated with these transcriptomic changes.
• To investigate correlations between specific bacteria/bacterial complexes and host gene expression.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study design in *Macaca mulatta* (rhesus macaques) across disease progression and resolution.
• 16S rRNA gene sequencing to profile the oral microbiome composition.
• Microarray analysis to assess gingival tissue gene expression, particularly apoptotic and autophagic pathways.

Main Results:

• Distinct patterns of apoptotic and autophagic gene expression were observed during periodontitis.
• Specific bacterial species and complexes within the oral microbiome showed significant correlations with these gene expression patterns.
• A bacterial complex including *Leptotrichia*, *Capnocytophaga*, *Prevotella*, and *Veillonellaceae* was negatively correlated with apoptosis and autophagy.
• Another group, including *Veillonellaceae*, *Porphyromonadaceae*, and *F. alocis*, was positively correlated, primarily with pro-apoptotic genes.

Conclusions:

• Specific bacteria and their complexes play a significant role in modulating apoptotic and autophagic pathways in gingival tissues during periodontitis.
• These findings highlight potential microbial targets for therapeutic interventions in periodontal disease.