Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
Establishment of a Murine Pulp Exposure Model with a Novel Mouth-Gag for Pulpitis Research
Published on: October 27, 2023
Integrative Multiomics and Single-cell Profiling Identify Cell-type-resolved Inflammatory Drivers in Symptomatic
Yixin Chen1, Jinsun Jeong2, Hiran Perinpanayagam3
1Department of Endodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration and Shandong Engineering Research Center of Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration and Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
This study identifies molecular signatures for symptomatic irreversible pulpitis (SIP), a painful dental condition. Saliva tests for NF-κB1 and TRAF1 show promise for diagnosing pulp inflammation non-invasively.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Symptomatic irreversible pulpitis (SIP) presents diagnostic challenges due to vague pain localization.
- Current diagnosis relies on subjective pain reports, leading to uncertainty and potential overtreatment.
- Objective molecular signatures are needed for accurate SIP diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify objective molecular signatures for symptomatic irreversible pulpitis (SIP).
- To integrate multiomics data for understanding pulp inflammation and pain modulation.
- To explore non-invasive salivary biomarkers for SIP diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Proteomic profiling of pulp tissue using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
- Transcriptional expression analysis and single-cell RNA sequencing to map gene expression to cell types.
- Western blotting for protein validation and salivary Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for biomarker quantification.
Main Results:
- Quantified 5,057 proteins, revealing activated leukocyte-mediated immunity and nociception pathways.
- Identified six consistently upregulated molecules: MMP9, NCF2, NF-κB1, CAMK1, TRAF1, and NACC1.
- Confirmed cell-type-specific expression and validated elevated salivary levels of NF-κB1 and TRAF1 in SIP patients.
Conclusions:
- Provides a cell-type-resolved understanding of pulpitis-associated inflammatory drivers.
- Identified NF-κB1 and TRAF1 as potential salivary biomarkers for SIP.
- Highlights potential for objective molecular diagnostics in endodontics.