The mechanism of efferocytosis in the pathogenesis of periodontitis and its possible therapeutic strategies.

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease characterized by the destruction of periodontal tissues, and its etiology is related to several systemic factors. At present, the destruction of periodontal tissues is considered to be the result of inflammation resolution disorders. Efferocytosis plays an important role in the resolution of inflammation, and defective efferocytosis is an essential factor in the persistence of many chronic inflammatory diseases. Therefore, this review will describe the mechanisms involved in the efferocytosis of macrophages in the pathogenesis of periodontitis and highlight emerging therapeutic strategies to provide new ideas for future periodontal treatment.

The Th17/Treg cell balance: crosstalk among the immune system, bone and microbes in periodontitis.

Periodontopathic bacteria constantly stimulate the host, which causes an immune response, leading to host-induced periodontal tissue damage. The complex interaction and imbalance between Th17 and Treg cells may be critical in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Furthermore, the RANKL/RANK/OPG system plays a significant role in periodontitis bone metabolism, and its relationship with the Th17/Treg cell imbalance may be a bridge between periodontal bone metabolism and the immune system. This article reviews the literature related to the Th17/Treg cell imbalance mediated by pathogenic periodontal microbes, and its mechanism involving RANKL/RANK/OPG in periodontitis bone metabolism, in an effort to provide new ideas for the study of the immunopathological mechanism of periodontitis.

Efficient miRNA Inhibitor Delivery with Graphene Oxide-Polyethylenimine to Inhibit Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are widely believed to be promising targets for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) gene therapy. miR-214 has been identified as a promoter of OSCC aggression and metastasis. METHODS: Graphene oxide-polyethylenimine (GO-PEI) complexes were prepared and loaded with a miRNA inhibitor at different N/P ratios. The transfection efficiency of GO-PEI-inhibitor was tested in Cal27 and SCC9 cells. Moreover, the tumor inhibition ability of GO-PEI-inhibitor was measured in an OSCC xenograft mouse model by intratumoral injection. RESULTS: Here, we show that a GO-PEI complex efficiently delivers a miR-214 inhibitor into OSCC cells and controls the intracellular release of the miR-214 inhibitor. These results indicate that the GO-PEI-miR-214 inhibitor complex efficiently inhibited cellular miR-214, resulting in a decrease in OSCC cell invasion and migration and an increase in cell apoptosis by targeting PTEN and p53. In the xenograft mouse model, the GO-PEI-miR-214 inhibitor complex significantly prevented tumor volume growth. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that functionalized GO-PEI with low toxicity has promising potential for miRNA delivery for the treatment of OSCC.

Treatment of intraoral ranulas with a two-incision fistula technique: the management of recurrence.

The two-incision fistula technique for the treatment of oral ranulas has recently been introduced to clinical practice. We reviewed 52 patients who had recurrences after this treatment, and explored the possible causes and underlying mechanisms. A total of 13/53 ranulas had recurred, so we repeated the operation, and one patient had the ranula and the sublingual gland resected. We found that the thin mucous membrane cracked at the double incisions, which led to the formation of a fistula and promoted the drainage of cystic fluid. The results indicated that the recurrence of ranulas after the two-incision fistula technique can be reduced further. To avoid recurrence, the technique should be adjusted slightly, depending on the type of ranula present.

Antigen-extracted xenogeneic cancellous bone graft with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 enhances bone regeneration in repair of mandibular defect in rabbits.

The effects of a large-piece of xenogeneic bone that was separated from healthy pigs as a scaffold for the repair of a mandibular defect was investigated, and the applicability of antigen-extracted xenogeneic cancellous bone (AXCB) soaked with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) in bone defect repair was assessed. Mandibular defects were created in 48 New Zealand rabbits, and the animals were randomly divided into four groups, in which the mandibular defects were grafted with AXCB, AXCB soaked with rhBMP-2, and autograft bone, or left blank. An equal number of animals from each group were classified into three time points (4, 8, and 12 weeks) after surgery for gross pathological observation, hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) staining, radiographic examination, and bone density measurement. H and E staining revealed that the area percentage of bone regeneration in the group of the AXCB/rhBMP-2 graft was 27.72 ± 4.68, 53.90 ± 21.92, and 77.35 ± 9.83 at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks, respectively. These results were better than those of the autogenous bone graft, suggesting that the group of the AXCB/rhBMP-2 graft achieved a good osteogenic effect. With regard to the AXCB graft without rhBMP-2, the area percentage of bone regeneration was only 14.03 ± 5.02, 28.49 ± 11.35, and 53.90 ± 21.92. Therefore, the osteogenic effect of the AXCB/rhBMP-2 graft was demonstrated to have the best effect. In the group of the AXCB/rhBMP-2 graft, the area percentage of bone regeneration increased, and the implanted materials were gradually degraded and replaced by autogenous bone regeneration over time. We conclude that the AXCB graft soaked with rhBMP-2 showed good osteogenic effect in the repair of bone defects and good biocompatibility. AXCB serves as a good carrier of rhBMP-2, which promotes bone formation.

[Study on osteogenic ability of chitosan/beta-tricalcium phosphate scaffold combined with human bone morphogenetic protein].

OBJECTIVE: Using chitosan (CS)/beta-tricalcium phosphate (TCP)/recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP)-2 for the reconstruction of rabbits' mandible defect, to prove the feasibility of CS/beta-TCP as an injectable bone tissue engineering scaffold material. METHODS: Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits were randomized into 4 groups on average: Experimental group 1 embedding CS/beta-TCP/rhBMP-2, experimental group 2 embedding CS/ beta-TCP, control group 1 embedding autograft bone group, control group 2 embedding nothing. At 2, 4 and 8 weeks after surgery, all rabbits were executed group by group. The new bone growth situations were observed with hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunofluorescence microscopy, the bone mineral density was detected by bone sonometers. RESULTS: After 2, 4, 8 weeks, there was significant difference among the areas of bone regeneration of all groups. The effect of experimental group 1 was better than experimental group 2. There was significant difference at different times, the areas of bone regeneration was gradually increased with time. The area of stained yellow in experimental group 1 was larger, the area of stained red was smaller. The quantities of bone density in experimental group 1 at every time after surgery were significantly higher than experimental group 1 and control group 2, but had no statistical significance with control group 1. CONCLUSION: CS/beta-TCP/rhBMP-2 has good biocompatibility, degradability and the capacity of guided and inducing osteogenesis. CS/beta-TCP as a good injection of carrier could become a promising carrier for rhBMP-2 and potential new degradable biological material for repairing bone defect in clinical application.