Does YAP influence cell proliferation and apoptosis in benign epithelial odontogenic lesions?

Elucidating the Role of HIF-1α/YAP Signaling Pathway in Regulating Inflammation in Human Periodontal Stem Cells: An in vitro Study

Background and Objective

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by dental plaque accumulation, leading to damage of periodontal tissues and potential tooth loss. Understanding the mechanisms of periodontitis, particularly the role of hypoxia in inflammation, is critical for identifying novel therapeutic strategies. This study investigated the effects of the prolyl hydroxylase (PHD) inhibitor DMOG on pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) and examined the involvement of the HIF-1α/YAP signaling path ay in modulating inflammation.

Materials and Methods

hPDLSCs were cultured and treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce inflammation, followed by DMOG treatment. Cell proliferation was assessed using the CCK-8 assay, while ELISA and RT-qPCR evaluated the expression levels of HIF-1α, IL-1β, TNF-α, and YAP. YAP expression was knocked down using siRNA transfection to examine its effects on inflammatory cytokines.

Results

DMOG significantly increased HIF-1α expression while reducing IL-1β and TNF-α levels in LPS-treated hPDLSCs. 0.1 mmol/L DMOG inhibited cell proliferation after 72 hours (P < 0.001). ELISA results showed that HIF-1α concentrations in the LPS + DMOG group were significantly higher than in the LPS group (P < 0.01), while IL-1β and TNF-α levels were significantly reduced (P < 0.01). RT-qPCR confirmed these trends, showing reduced mRNA levels of IL-1β and TNF-α and increased YAP expression in the LPS + DMOG group (P < 0.0001). YAP knockdown via siRNA transfection reversed these effects, increasing IL-1β and TNF-α levels (P < 0.01) while significantly reducing HIF-1α expression (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that DMOG reduces inflammatory cytokine expression in hPDLSCs by stabilizing HIF-1α and activating the YAP signaling pathway. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for targeting the HIF-1α/YAP axis to control periodontal inflammation and support the potential of PHD inhibitors as therapeutic agents for periodontitis.

Discovery of metabolite biomarkers for odontogenic keratocysts

INTRODUCTION

Odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) are locally aggressive and have a high rate of recurrence, but the pathogenesis of OKCs is not fully understood. We aimed to investigate the serum metabolomic profile of OKCs and discover potential biomarkers.

METHODS

Metabolomic analysis was performed on 42 serum samples from 22 OKC patients and 20 healthy controls (HCs) using gas chromatography‒mass spectrometry to identify dysregulated metabolites in the OKC samples. LASSO regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were used to select and validate metabolic biomarkers and develop diagnostic models.

RESULTS

A total of 73 metabolites were identified in the serum samples, and 24 metabolites were dysregulated in the OKC samples, of which 4 were upregulated. Finally, a diagnostic panel of 10 metabolites was constructed that accurately diagnosed OKCs (sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 100%, area under the curve of 1.00).

CONCLUSION

This study is the first to investigate the metabolic characteristics and potential metabolic biomarkers in the serum of OKC patients using GC‒MS. Our study provides further evidence to explore the pathogenesis of OKC.