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Updated: Feb 22, 2026
Author Spotlight: Enhancing Dental Pulp Research with Improved Mouse Models
Published on: October 27, 2023
Pulpitis Transiently Affect Hepatic Bone Morphogenetic Protein 9 Expression by Lipopolysaccharide
Tianzhu Song1, Dongzhe Song2, Yanglin Zeng3
1State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases of Gansu Province Key & Laboratory of Stomatology of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
Pulpitis may transiently alter bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) levels in the liver and blood via lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and epigenetic changes. Targeting these pathways may offer new strategies for oral-systemic disease links.
Area of Science:
- Oral health and systemic disease interactions.
- Molecular mechanisms of inflammation.
- Epigenetics in disease pathogenesis.
Background:
- The link between oral infections like pulpitis and systemic health is increasingly recognized.
- Pulpitis, an infectious dental disease, may impact systemic organs.
- Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) role in systemic health requires further study.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of pulpitis on BMP9 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels in liver and blood.
- To explore the molecular mechanisms, including epigenetic modifications, underlying these changes.
- To assess the potential of targeting epigenetic pathways for managing oral-systemic links.
Main Methods:
- A rat/mouse model of pulpitis was used to measure BMP9 and LPS in liver and blood.
- Hepatic stellate cells were stimulated with LPS to study cellular responses.
- Histone H3K9 methylation, G9a methyltransferase activity, and BMP9 gene regulation were analyzed.
- The effect of the G9a inhibitor UNC0642 was evaluated.
Main Results:
- Pulpitis induced transient fluctuations in BMP9 levels in liver and blood, mirroring LPS-stimulated hepatic stellate cells.
- LPS stimulation increased H3K9 dimethylation and G9a methyltransferase activity, particularly at the BMP9 promoter.
- Inhibition of G9a with UNC0642 normalized BMP9 levels.
- These findings highlight the role of epigenetic modifications in mediating pulpitis-induced systemic effects.
Conclusions:
- Pulpitis, through LPS, can transiently affect BMP9 expression in the liver, suggesting potential systemic impacts.
- Epigenetic mechanisms involving H3K9 methylation and G9a are involved in regulating BMP9 expression during pulpitis.
- This study offers a proof-of-concept for targeting epigenetic pathways to address the oral-systemic disease connection.
