Shared immune-inflammatory mechanisms between ulcerative colitis and periodontitis: a multi-omics analysis.

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Gastroenterology
• Periodontology

Background:

• Ulcerative colitis (UC) and periodontitis (PD) are chronic inflammatory conditions.
• Evidence suggests bidirectional communication between the gut and oral cavity (oral-gut axis).
• The precise immunological mechanisms linking UC and PD remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causal relationship between UC and PD.
• To identify shared immunological mechanisms and key molecular mediators.
• To explore the role of these mechanisms in disease pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

• Bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis.
• Integration of transcriptomic data to identify shared genes.
• Machine learning for immune-related gene screening.
• Enrichment analysis and immune cell infiltration profiling.
• Validation in a dual-disease rat model.

Main Results:

• A unidirectional causal effect of UC on PD was identified.
• CXCL6 was identified as a hub gene, upregulated in both UC and PD.
• CXCL6 is associated with neutrophil infiltration and mucosal barrier disruption.
• Elevated CXCL6 in dual-disease rat models correlated with worsened colonic epithelial damage.

Conclusions:

• A shared immune signature exists between UC and PD.
• CXCL6 acts as a pivotal mediator in the oral-gut axis interaction.
• Findings enhance understanding of mucosal interactions and inform future research.