Porphyromonas gingivalis Promotes the Proliferation and Migration of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma through the miR-194/GRHL3/PTEN/Akt Axis

Promising dawn in tumor microenvironment therapy: engineering oral bacteria

Despite decades of research, cancer continues to be a major global health concern. The human mouth appears to be a multiplicity of local environments communicating with other organs and causing diseases via microbes. Nowadays, the role of oral microbes in the development and progression of cancer has received increasing scrutiny. At the same time, bioengineering technology and nanotechnology is growing rapidly, in which the physiological activities of natural bacteria are modified to improve the therapeutic efficiency of cancers. These engineered bacteria were transformed to achieve directed genetic reprogramming, selective functional reorganization and precise control. In contrast to endotoxins produced by typical genetically modified bacteria, oral flora exhibits favorable biosafety characteristics. To outline the current cognitions upon oral microbes, engineered microbes and human cancers, related literatures were searched and reviewed based on the PubMed database. We focused on a number of oral microbes and related mechanisms associated with the tumor microenvironment, which involve in cancer occurrence and development. Whether engineering oral bacteria can be a possible application of cancer therapy is worth consideration. A deeper understanding of the relationship between engineered oral bacteria and cancer therapy may enhance our knowledge of tumor pathogenesis thus providing new insights and strategies for cancer prevention and treatment.

Upper gastrointestinal tract microbiota with oral origin in relation to oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Introduction: Poor oral hygiene is linked to high risks of many systemic diseases, including cancers. Oral dysbiosis is closely associated with poor oral hygiene, causing tooth loss, gingivitis, and periodontitis. We provide a summary of studies and discuss the risk factors for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) from a microbial perspective in this review.Methods: A literature search of studies published before December 31, 2022 from PubMed, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library was performed. The search strategies included the following keywords: (1) oral care, oral health, oral hygiene, dental health, dental hygiene, tooth loss, teeth loss, tooth absence, missing teeth, edentulism, tooth brushing, mouthwash, and tooth cleaning; (2) esophageal, esophagus, oesophagus, and oesophageal; (3) cancer, carcinoma, tumor, and neoplasm.Discussion: Poor oral health, indicated by infrequent tooth brushing, chronic periodontitis, and tooth loss, has been associated with an increased risk of squamous dysplasia and ESCC. Oral microbial diversity and composition are profoundly dysregulated during oesophageal tumorigenesis. Similar to the oral microbiota, the oesophageal microbiota varies distinctly in multiple bacterial taxa in ESCC and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma, both of which have high co-occurrence rates in the "Oesophageal Cancer Belt". In addition, the potential roles of oncogenic viruses in ESCC have also been discussed. We also briefly explore the potential mechanisms underlying the tumor-promoting role of dysregulated microbiota for the development of therapeutic targeting strategies.Conclusion: Poor oral health is an established risk indicator of ESCC. The dysbiosis of microbiota in upper gastrointestinal tract that highly resembles the oral microbial ecosystem but with distinct features at individual sites contributes to the development and progression of ESCC.

Upregulation of miR-194-5p or silencing of PRC1 enhances radiotherapy sensitivity in esophageal squamous carcinoma cells

Background

To investigate the possible molecular mechanism of miR-194-5p/PRC1/Wnt/β-catenin signaling axis that regulates the invasive metastatic ability and radiotherapy sensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells.

Methods

ESCC-related differentially expressed miRNAs were identified by microarray analysis, followed by the identification of a putative target. The targeting relationship between miR-194-5p and PRC1 was assayed. A series of mimic and shRNA were transfected into ESCC cells to find out the mechanism of miR-194-5p in ESCC by regulating PRC1 through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and their effect on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and radiosensitivity as well as xenograft tumor growth and metastasis in nude mice.

Results

We demonstrated low miR-194-5p expression and high PRC1 expression in ESCC tissues and cells. PRC1 was confirmed as a putative target for miR-194-5p. High miR-194-5p or silenced PRC1 enhanced ESCC cell radiosensitivity but reduced proliferation, invasion, and migration via PRC1 through modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Animal experiments also validated that overexpression of miR-194-5p suppressed tumorigenesis and in vivo metastasis in nude mice.Conclusion: miR-194-5p can inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway through down-regulation of the PRC1 gene, thereby enhancing the sensitivity of ESCC cells to radiotherapy and attenuating the invasion and metastasis ability of ESCC cells.

A novel fluorescent traceable carbon quantum dots with selective antibacterial activity against Porphyromonas gingivalis

Antibiotics can kill bacteria, but their continued use can easily lead to drug resistance, particularly the main pathogenic bacteria of periodontitis, Porphyromonas gingivalis. However, to avoid drug resistance, carbon quantum dots (CDs) have great potential as a bioactive material in antimicrobial therapy. Herein, we use ornidazole as raw material to prepare CDs of different sizes by microwave irradiation and screen CDs with fluorescence and bacteriostatic properties. The inhibition experiments and live/dead assays of P. gingivalis exhibited outstanding antibacterial effects. This research aimed to develop nano-level antibacterial active materials that also have fluorescence traceability. This study offers a different method for the development of multifunctional CDs, provides valuable strategies for the treatment of diseases associated with P. gingivalis, and predicts great application prospects in the field of biomedicine.

The role of oral microbiota in cancer

Cancer remains a significant global challenge, with an estimated 47% increase in cancer patients from 2020 to 2040. Increasing research has identified microorganism as a risk factor for cancer development. The oral cavity, second only to the colon, harbors more than 700 bacterial species and serves as a crucial microbial habitat. Although numerous epidemiological studies have reported associations between oral microorganisms and major systemic tumors, the relationship between oral microorganisms and cancers remains largely unclear. Current research primarily focuses on respiratory and digestive system tumors due to their anatomical proximity to the oral cavity. The relevant mechanism research mainly involves 47% dominant oral microbial population that can be cultured in vitro. However, further exploration is necessary to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the association between oral microbiota and tumors. This review systematically summarizes the reported correlations between oral microbiota and common cancers while also outlining potential mechanisms that may guide biological tumor treatment.

Expression and prognostic value of AIM1L in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Absent in melanoma 1-like (AIM1L), also known as crystalline beta gamma domain containing 2. The relationship between AIM1L and tumors has not been fully investigated, and the biological function of AIM1L in different tumors is unknown, so we bioinformatically explored a possible relationship between AIM1L and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS

AIM1L mRNA expression was detected by the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE20347, GSE161533, and GSE53625), and protein level expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. The correlation between AIM1L expression and clinical pathological characteristics was evaluated by the Wilcoxon signed rank test or chi-square test. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional risk regression model were used to determine the prognostic value of AIM1L in ESCC patients and establish and verify a nomogram. Find genes highly related to the expression of AIM1L, conduct GO and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, and conduct GSEA analysis on the gene set. The "CIBERSORT" R package was used to explore the relationship between AIM1L and immune infiltration, and the "OncoPredict" R package was used to explore the relationship between AIM1L and drug sensitivity.

RESULTS

Compared with the matched adjacent non-cancer tissues, the expression of AIM1L was down-regulated in ESCC tissues, and correlated with tumor grade. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox analysis showed that the low expression of AIM1L was related to the poor prognosis of ESCC patients. Enrichment analysis explained the possible function of AIM1L, GSEA determined the highly correlated signal pathway of AIM1L low expression phenotype, immune infiltration analysis determined that AIM1L was related to activated NK cells and macrophage M2, and drug sensitivity analysis determined that the low expression of AIM1L might be related to EGFR targeted drug resistance.

CONCLUSION

AIM1L may be a candidate tumor suppressor gene for ESCC and an independent molecular biomarker for the prognosis of ESCC patients.

Relationship between pathogenic microorganisms and the occurrence of esophageal carcinoma based on pathological type: a narrative review

INTRODUCTION

Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the upper gastrointestinal tract. The etiology of EC is complicated and increasing evidence has shown that microbial infection is closely related to the occurrence of various malignant tumors. Though many studies have been focused on this subject in recent years, the exact relationship between microbial infection and the occurrence of EC remains unclear.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, we searched all eligible literature reports, summarized the most recent studies in this research field, and analyzed the pathogenic microorganisms associated with EC, providing the latest evidence and references for the prevention of pathogenic microorganism-related EC.

EXPERT OPINION

In recent years, increasing evidence has shown that pathogenic microbial infections are closely associated with the development of EC. Therefore, it is necessary to describe in detail the relationship between microbial infection and EC and clarify its possible pathogenic mechanism, which will shed a light on clinical prevention and treatment of cancer caused by pathogenic microbial infection.

Fusobacterium nucleatum promotes proliferation in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma via AHR/CYP1A1 signalling

Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) is reportedly involved in poor prognosis of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but the responsible mechanisms remain unclear. The present study aimed to explore the function of Fn in ESCC progression, and to identify the key genes or signals involved. Fluorescence in situ hybridization and quantitative PCR assays were applied to measure the abundance of Fn in ESCC tissues, finding that ESCC tissues displayed a higher abundance of Fn compared to adjacent tissues. Furthermore, Fn abundance in advanced ESCC tissues was found to be higher than that in early stage ESCC. The proliferation assays and wound healing assays indicated that Fn infection promoted ESCC cell proliferation and migration. Based on high-throughput sequencing, cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) was the most significantly upregulated (eightfold increase) gene, and AKT signalling was activated in KYSE-450 cells treated with Fn. Knocking down CYP1A1 or inactivating AKT signalling with LY294002 downregulated p-AKT^S473 , inhibited cell proliferation, and compromised the proliferation effect induced by Fn in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Inactivating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) by CH-223191 reversed CYP1A1 expression induced by Fn and inhibited the proliferation of ESCC cells. Taken together, our findings indicate that Fn may promote ESCC cell proliferation via AHR/CYP1A1/AKT signalling. Targeting Fn or AHR/CYP1A1 signalling could yield approaches relevant to the treatment of ESCC.

Esophageal cancer and bacterial part of gut microbiota - A multidisciplinary point of view

There is an urgent need to search for new screening methods that allow early detection of esophageal cancer and thus achieve better clinical outcomes. Nowadays, it is known that the esophagus is not a sterile part of the gastrointestinal tract. It is colonized with various microorganisms therefore a "healthy" esophageal microbiome exists. The dysbiotic changes of esophageal microbiome can lead to the development of esophageal diseases including esophageal cancer. There is a strong consensus in the literature that the intestinal microbiome may be involved in esophageal carcinogenesis. Recently, emphasis has also been placed on the relationship between the oral microbiome and the occurrence of esophageal cancer. According to recent studies, some of the bacteria present in the oral cavity, such as Tannerella forsythia, Streptococcus anginosus, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Fusobacterium nucleatum may contribute to the development of this cancer. Moreover, the oral microbiome of patients with esophageal cancer differs significantly from that of healthy individuals. This opens new insights into the search for a microbiome-associated marker for early identification of patients at high risk for developing this cancer.

Consistent downregulation of the cleft lip/palate-associated genes IRF6 and GRHL3 in carcinomas

Interferon Regulatory Factor 6 (IRF6) and Grainyhead Like Transcription Factor 3 (GRHL3) are transcription factors that orchestrate gene regulatory networks required for the balance between keratinocyte differentiation and proliferation. Absence of either protein results in the lack of a normal stratified epidermis with keratinocytes failing to stop proliferating and to terminally differentiate. Numerous pathological variants within IRF6 and GRHL3 have been identified in orofacial cleft-affected individuals and expression of the two transcription factors has been found to be often dysregulated in cancers. However, whether orofacial cleft-associated IRF6 and GRHL3 variants in patients might also affect their cancer risk later in life, is not clear yet. The fact that the role of IRF6 and GRHL3 in cancer remains controversial makes this question even more challenging. Some studies identified IRF6 and GRHL3 as oncogenes, while others could attribute tumor suppressive functions to them. Trying to solve this apparent conundrum, we herein aimed to characterize IRF6 and GRHL3 function in various types of carcinomas. We screened multiple cancer and normal cell lines for their expression, and subsequently proceeded with functional assays in cancer cell lines. Our data uncovered consistent downregulation of IRF6 and GRHL3 in all types of carcinomas analyzed. Reduced levels of IRF6 and GRHL3 were found to be associated with several tumorigenic properties, such as enhanced cell proliferation, epithelial mesenchymal transition, migration and reduced differentiation capacity. Based on our findings, IRF6 and GRHL3 can be considered as tumor suppressor genes in various carcinomas, which makes them potential common etiological factors for cancer and CLP in a fraction of CLP-affected patients.

The Microbiome in Pancreatic Cancer-Implications for Diagnosis and Precision Bacteriophage Therapy for This Low Survival Disease

While the mortality rates for many cancers have decreased due to improved detection and treatments, that of pancreatic cancer remains stubbornly high. The microbiome is an important factor in the progression of many cancers. Greater understanding of the microbiome in pancreatic cancer patients, as well as its manipulation, may assist in diagnosis and treatment of this disease. In this report we reviewed studies that compared microbiome changes in pancreatic cancer patients and non-cancer patients. We then identified which bacterial genera were most increased in relative abundance across the oral, pancreatic, duodenal, and faecal tissue microbiomes. In light of these findings, we discuss the potential for utilising these bacteria as diagnostic biomarkers, as well as their potential control using precision targeting with bacteriophages, in instances where a causal oncogenic link is made.

Oral Microbiota-Driven Cell Migration in Carcinogenesis and Metastasis

The oral cavity harbors approximately 1,000 microbial species, and both pathogenic and commensal strains are involved in the development of carcinogenesis by stimulating chronic inflammation, affecting cell proliferation, and inhibiting cell apoptosis. Moreover, some substances produced by oral bacteria can also act in a carcinogenic manner. The link between oral microbiota and chronic inflammation as well as cell proliferation has been well established. Recently, increasing evidence has indicated the association of the oral microbiota with cell migration, which is crucial in regulating devastating diseases such as cancer. For instance, increased cell migration induced the spread of highly malignant cancer cells. Due to advanced technologies, the mechanistic understanding of cell migration in carcinogenesis and cancer metastasis is undergoing rapid progress. Thus, this review addressed the complexities of cell migration in carcinogenesis and cancer metastasis. We also integrate recent findings on the molecular mechanisms by which the oral microbiota regulates cell migration, with emphasis on the effect of the oral microbiota on adhesion, polarization, and guidance. Finally, we also highlight critical techniques, such as intravital microscopy and superresolution microscopy, for studies in this field.

PolyC-RNA-binding protein 1 (PCBP1) enhances tropomyosin 3 (TPM3) mRNA stability to promote the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

The molecular etiology of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has not been fully elucidated. Understanding the molecular mechanisms and finding new therapeutic targets for ESCC are of crucial importance. PolyC-RNA-binding protein 1 (PCBP1) is an RNA-binding protein. Here, we found overexpressed PCBP1 in esophageal cancer tissues by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blotting analysis. PCBP1 knockdown significantly attenuated migratory and invasion abilities of ESCC cells. Mechanistically, PCBP1 bound directly to tropomyosin 3 (TPM3) mRNA, which was verified by RNA–protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. PCBP1 knockdown markedly reduced messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of TPM3. After inhibiting intracellular mRNA synthesis with actinomycin D (ActD), it was found that PCBP1 knockdown contributed to a significant decrease in TPM3 mRNA degradation. Furthermore, PCBP1 promoted migration and invasion of EC cells by directly binding to the 3’UTR of TPM3 mRNA, increasing TPM3 mRNA stability. Taken together, PCBP1 acting as a pro-oncogenic factor enhances TPM3 mRNA stability by directly binding to the 3’UTR of TPM3 mRNA in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Our findings provide a new perspective for understanding the molecular mechanism of esophageal carcinogenesis, and PCBP1 is a promising therapeutic target.

Role of Porphyromonas gingivalis in oral and orodigestive squamous cell carcinoma

Oral and esophageal squamous cell carcinomas harbor a diverse microbiome that differs compositionally from precancerous and healthy tissues. Though causality is yet to be definitively established, emerging trends implicate periodontal pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis as associated with the cancerous state. Moreover, infection with P. gingivalis correlates with a poor prognosis, and P. gingivalis is oncopathogenic in animal models. Mechanistically, properties of P. gingivalis that have been established in vitro and could promote tumor development include induction of a dysbiotic inflammatory microenvironment, inhibition of apoptosis, increased cell proliferation, enhanced angiogenesis, activation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and production of carcinogenic metabolites. The microbial community context is also relevant to oncopathogenicity, and consortia of P. gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum are synergistically pathogenic in oral cancer models in vivo. In contrast, oral streptococci, such as Streptococcus gordonii, can antagonize protumorigenic epithelial cell phenotypes induced by P. gingivalis, indicating functionally specialized roles for bacteria in oncogenic communities. Consistent with the notion of the bacterial community constituting the etiologic unit, metatranscriptomic data indicate that functional, rather than compositional, properties of the tumor-associated communities have more relevance to cancer development. A consistent association of P. gingivalis with oral and orodigestive carcinoma could have diagnostic potential for early detection of these conditions that have a high incidence and low survival rates.

Integrative Analysis of Deregulated miRNAs Reveals Candidate Molecular Mechanisms Linking H. pylori Infected Peptic Ulcer Disease with Periodontitis

Objective

Periodontitis is a highly prevalent oral infectious disease and has been increasingly associated with H. pylori infection, gastric inflammation, and gastric cancer but little is known about epigenetic machinery underlying this potentially bidirectional association. The present study is aimed at identifying key deregulated miRNA, their associated genes, signaling pathways, and compounds linking periodontitis with H. pylori-associated peptic ulcer disease.

Methods

miRNA expression datasets for periodontitis-affected and H. pylori-associated peptic ulcer disease-affected tissues were sought from the GEO database. Differentially expressed miRNA (DEmiRNAs) were identified and the overlapping, shared-DEmiRNA between both datasets were determined. Shared-DEmiRNA-target networks construction and functional analyses were constructed using miRNet 2.0, including shared-DEmiRNA-gene, shared-DEmiRNA-transcription factor (TF), and shared-DEmiRNA-compound networks. Functional enrichment analysis for shared DEmiRNA-gene and shared DEmiRNA-TF networks was performed using the KEGG, Reactome, and Geno Ontology (GO) pathways.

Results

11 shared-DEmiRNAs were identified, among which 9 showed similar expression patterns in both diseases, and 7 were overexpressed. miRNA hsa-hsa-mir-155-5p and hsa-mir-29a-3p were top miRNA nodes in both gene and TF networks. The topmost candidate miRNA-deregulated genes were PTEN, CCND1, MDM2, TNRC6A, and SCD while topmost deregulated TFs included STAT3, HIF1A, EZH2, CEBPA, and RUNX1. Curcumin, 5-fluorouracil, and the gallotanin 1,2,6-Tri-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucopyranose emerged as the most relevant linkage compound targets. Functional analyses revealed multiple cancer-associated pathways, PI3K pathways, kinase binding, and transcription factor binding among as enriched by the network-associated genes and TFs.

Conclusion

Integrative analysis of deregulated miRNAs revealed candidate molecular mechanisms comprising of top miRNA, their gene, and TF targets linking H. pylori-infected peptic ulcer disease with periodontitis and highlighted compounds targeting both diseases. These findings provide basis for directing future experimental research.

KLF5, a Novel Therapeutic Target in Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are the most common ectodermal cancers, and result in more than 300,000 deaths per year. The Krüppel-like family of transcription factors play a critical role in cancer pathogenesis. The Krüppel-like factor 5 gene (KLF5), which is a member of Krüppel-like family, has been reported to promote cancer cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. In this review, we discuss the roles of KLF5 in different SCCs and the mechanisms by which KLF5 transcriptionally regulates its target gene expression in the pathogenesis and progression of SCCs. Due to its significant functions in cell proliferation and differentiation, KLF5 could be a novel diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for the treatment of SCCs.

Crosstalk between autophagy and microbiota in cancer progression

Autophagy is a highly conserved catabolic process seen in eukaryotes and is essentially a lysosome-dependent protein degradation pathway. The dysregulation of autophagy is often associated with the pathogenesis of numerous types of cancers, and can not only promote the survival of cancer but also trigger the tumor cell death. During cancer development, the microbial community might predispose cells to tumorigenesis by promoting mucosal inflammation, causing systemic disorders, and may also regulate the immune response to cancer. The complex relationship between autophagy and microorganisms can protect the body by activating the immune system. In addition, autophagy and microorganisms can crosstalk with each other in multifaceted ways to influence various physiological and pathological responses involved in cancer progression. Various molecular mechanisms, correlating the microbiota disorders and autophagy activation, control the outcomes of protumor or antitumor responses, which depend on the cancer type, tumor microenvironment and disease stage. In this review, we mainly emphasize the leading role of autophagy during the interaction between pathogenic microorganisms and human cancers and investigate the various molecular mechanisms by which autophagy modulates such complicated biological processes. Moreover, we also highlight the possibility of curing cancers with multiple molecular agents targeting the microbiota/autophagy axis. Finally, we summarize the emerging clinical trials investigating the therapeutic potential of targeting either autophagy or microbiota as anticancer strategies, although the crosstalk between them has not been explored thoroughly.

Frequencies of Porphyromonas gingivalis Detection in Oral-Digestive Tract Tumors

Mounting evidence suggests a causal relationship between specific bacterial infections and the development of certain malignancies. In this study, we examined the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) in oral-digestive tract tumors by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and PCR and analyzed the correlation between P. gingivalis detection and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of oral and esophageal carcinoma. The IHC results showed that the positive rates of P. gingivalis were 60.00, 46.00, 20.00, 6.67, and 2.86% in oral, esophagus, cardiac, stomach, and colorectal cancer tissues, respectively. Likewise, PCR results showed rates of 56.00, 42.00, 16.67, 3.33, and 2.86%, respectively. The two methods were consistent, and the kappa value was 0.806, P < 0.001. In addition, P. gingivalis expression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and the clinical stages of oral and esophageal cancer (P < 0.05). The overall survival rate of the P. gingivalis undetected group (86, 50%) was significantly higher than that of the P. gingivalis detected group (57, 14%) for oral and esophageal cancer, respectively. In conclusion, the detection rate of P. gingivalis showed a decreasing trend in oral-digestive tract tumors. Detection with P. gingivalis was associated with poor prognosis for oral and esophageal cancer.

Porphyromonas gingivalis and Its Systemic Impact: Current Status

The relationship between periodontitis and systemic diseases, notably including atherosclerosis and diabetes, has been studied for several years. Porphyromonas gingivalis, a prominent component of oral microorganism communities, is the main pathogen that causes periodontitis. As a result of the extensive analysis of this organism, the evidence of its connection to systemic diseases has become more apparent over the last decade. A significant amount of research has explored the role of Porphyromonas gingivalis in atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and adverse pregnancy outcomes, while relatively few studies have examined its contribution to respiratory diseases, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and depression. Here, we provide an overview of the current state of knowledge about Porphyromonas gingivalis and its systemic impact in an aim to inform readers of the existing epidemiological evidence and the most recent preclinical studies. Additionally, the possible mechanisms by which Porphyromonas gingivalis is involved in the onset or exacerbation of diseases, together with its effects on systemic health, are covered. Although a few results remain controversial, it is now evident that Porphyromonas gingivalis should be regarded as a modifiable factor for several diseases.

Exosomal microRNA-139-5p from mesenchymal stem cells accelerates trophoblast cell invasion and migration by motivation of the ERK/MMP-2 pathway via downregulation of protein tyrosine phosphatase

AIM

Exosomes present essential roles for intercellular interaction via extracellular pathways during systemic dysfunctions, including preeclampsia (PE). Here, we assessed the specific mechanism of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC)-originated exosomes in PE.

METHODS

The effects of exosomes on trophoblasts were studied by EdU, wound healing, Transwell and TUNEL assays. By microarray analysis, we found that exosomes enhanced the microRNA-139-5p (miR-139-5p) in trophoblasts, and confirmed the target gene of miR-139-5p by bioinformatics prediction and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. At the same time, ERK/MMP-2 pathway-related biomolecules were assessed through Western blot analysis. The pathway inhibitor was used for rescue experiments. Finally, the effect of exosomes on the pathology of PE rats was verified by in vivo experiments.

RESULTS

The exosomes originated from hucMSC fostered the trophoblast cell migration, invasion and proliferation and obstructed apoptosis. Moreover, miR-139-5p could be transmitted to trophoblasts through hucMSC-secreted exosomes. miR-139-5p targeted protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTEN), which regulated the ERK/MMP-2 pathway. Inhibition of the ERK/MMP-2 pathway significantly reduced the promoting effect of exosomes on trophoblasts. Treatment with exosomes significantly lowered blood pressure values and reduced 24-h proteinuria in PE rats.

CONCLUSION

hucMSC-originated exosomes overexpressing miR-139-5p activated the ERK/MMP-2 pathway via PTEN downregulation, thus accelerating trophoblast cell invasion and migration, and blocking apoptosis. These results demonstrated that hucMSC-derived exosomes overexpressing miR-139-5p might be an innovative direction for therapeutic approaches against PE.

Specific Anti-biofilm Activity of Carbon Quantum Dots by Destroying P. gingivalis Biofilm Related Genes

Introduction

Biofilms protect bacteria from antibiotics and this can produce drug-resistant strains, especially the main pathogen of periodontitis, Porphyromonas gingivalis. Carbon quantum dots with various biomedical properties are considered to have great application potential in antibacterial and anti-biofilm treatment.

Methods

Tinidazole carbon quantum dots (TCDs) and metronidazole carbon quantum dots (MCDs) were prepared by a hydrothermal method with the clinical antibacterial drugs tinidazole and metronidazole, respectively. Then, TCDs and MCDs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, UV–visible spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and energy-dispersive spectrometry. The antibacterial effects were also investigated under different conditions.

Results

The TCDs and MCDs had uniform sizes. The results of UV–visible and energy-dispersive spectrometry confirmed their important carbon polymerization structures and the activity of the nitro group, which had an evident inhibitory effect on P. gingivalis, but almost no effect on other bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Prevotella nigrescens. Importantly, the TCDs could penetrate the biofilms to further effectively inhibit the growth of P. gingivalis under the biofilms. Furthermore, it was found that the antibacterial effect of TCDs lies in its ability to impair toxicity by inhibiting the major virulence factors and related genes involved in the biofilm formation of P. gingivalis, thus affecting the self-assembly of biofilm-related proteins.

Conclusion

The findings demonstrate a promising new method for improving the efficiency of periodontitis treatment by penetrating the P. gingivalis biofilm with preparations of nano-level antibacterial drugs.