Transcriptomic features of programmed and inflammatory cell death in gingival tissues.

Area of Science:

• Oral biology
• Molecular biology
• Immunology

Background:

• Periodontitis involves significant histological and biological changes in gingival tissues.
• Understanding the molecular mechanisms of cell death in periodontitis is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the gingival transcriptome related to four cell death processes: pyroptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, and cuproptosis.
• To analyze age-associated differences in these pathways in healthy and periodontitis models.

Main Methods:

• Utilized gingival tissue biopsies from Macaca mulatta primates across various age groups.
• Conducted microarray analysis of 257 genes related to cell death pathways.
• Performed 16S rRNA gene analysis of bacterial plaque samples.

Main Results:

• Identified age-related variations in gene expression for cuproptosis, ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis in healthy gingival tissues.
• Observed significant differences in these pathways during periodontitis initiation, progression, and resolution, influenced by animal age.
• Found distinct bacterial families significantly correlated with gene expression in cell death pathways.

Conclusions:

• Gingival tissue exhibits age-associated molecular responses to bacterial shifts in periodontitis.
• Regulated cell death pathways are implicated in both physiological and pathophysiological processes of periodontitis.
• Age is a critical factor in the gingival tissue's molecular response to periodontitis.