HA2-FimA DNA Vaccine Treats Experimental Periodontitis.

PURPOSE: To study the therapeutic effect of hemagglutinin-2 and fimbrial (HA2-FimA) vaccine on experimental periodontitis in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The first batch of rats was divided into two groups and immunised with pure water or pVAX1-HA2-FimA at the age of 6, 7, and 9 weeks. After sacrificing the animals, total RNA was extracted from the spleens for RNA high-throughput sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis. The second batch of rats was divided into four groups (A, B, C, D), and an experimental periodontitis rat model was established by suturing silk thread around the maxillary second molars of rats in groups B, C, and D for 4 weeks. The rats were immunised with pure water, pVAX1-HA2-FimA vaccine, empty pVAX1 vector, and pure water at 10, 11, and 13 weeks of age, respectively. Secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) antibodies and cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) levels in saliva were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All rats were euthanised at 17 weeks of age, and alveolar bone loss was examined using micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT). RESULTS: Through sequencing analysis, six key genes, including Camp, were identified. Compared with the other three groups, the rats in the periodontitis+pVAX1-HA2-FimA vaccine group showed higher levels of SIgA and CAMP (p < 0.05). Micro-CT results showed significantly less alveolar bone loss in the periodontitis+pVAX1-HA2-FimA vaccine group compared to the periodontitis+pVAX1 group and periodontitis+pure water group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: HA2-FimA DNA vaccine can increase the levels of SIgA and CAMP in the saliva of experimental periodontitis model rats and reduce alveolar bone loss.

Transcriptome Sequencing of Gingival Tissues from Impacted Third Molars Patients Reveals the Alterations of Gene Expression.

OBJECTIVE: The removal of impacted third molars by surgery may occur with a series of complications, whereas limited information about the postoperative pathogenesis is available. The objective of this study is to identify changes in gene expression after flap surgical removal of impacted third molars and provide potential information to reduce postoperative complications. METHODS: The gingival tissues of twenty patients with flap surgical removal of impacted third molars and twenty healthy volunteers were collected for gene expression testing. The collected gingival tissues were used RNA sequencing technology and quantitative real-time PCR validation was performed. DEG was mapped to protein databases such as GO and KEGG for functional annotation and, based on annotation information, for mining of differential expression genes in patients with mpacted third molars. RESULTS: A total of 555 genes were differentially expressed. Among the top up-regulated genes, HLA-DRB4, CCL20, and CXCL8 were strongly associated with immune response and signal transduction. Among the top down-regulated genes, SPRR2B, CLDN17, LCE3D and LCE3E were related to keratinocyte differentiation, IFITM5, and BGLAP were related to bone mineralization, UGT2B17 is associated with susceptibility to osteoporosis. KEGG results showed that the DEGs were related to multiple disease-related pathways. CONCLUSION: This first transcriptome analysis of gingival tissues from patients with surgical removal of impacted third molars provides new insights into postoperative genetic changes. The results may establish a basis for future research on minimizing the incidence of complications after flap-treated third molars.