ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and periodontitis, both classified under chronic inflammatory diseases, share common etiologies, including genetic factors and immune pathways. However, the exact mechanisms are still poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the potential common genes and immune characteristics between AF and periodontitis. METHODS: Gene expression datasets for AF and periodontitis were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differential expression analysis was used to identify common genes in the training set. Functional analyses, including Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, were conducted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Hub genes were further screened based on expression levels, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. Then, based on the expression levels and ROC values of the hub genes in the validation set, the target genes were identified. Finally, immune cell infiltration analysis was performed on the AF and periodontitis datasets in the training set using the "CIBERSORT" R package. The relationships between target genes, infiltrating immune cells, and inflammatory factors were also investigated. In addition, AF susceptibility, atrial fibrosis, inflammatory infiltration, and RGS1 protein expression in rat models of periodontitis were assessed through in vivo electrophysiology experiments, Masson's trichrome staining, hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, and western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 21 common genes were identified between AF and periodontitis among the differentially expressed genes. After evaluating gene expression levels, ROC curves, and LASSO analysis, four significant genes between AF and periodontitis were identified, namely regulator of G-protein signaling 1 (RGS1), annexin A6 (ANXA6), solute carrier family 27 member 6 (SLC27A6), and ficolin 1 (FCN1). Further validation confirmed that RGS1 was the optimal shared target gene for AF and periodontitis. Immune cell infiltration analysis revealed that neutrophils and T cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of both diseases. RGS1 showed a significant positive correlation with activated memory CD4 T cells and gamma-delta T cells and a negative correlation with CD8 T cells and regulatory T cells in both training sets. Moreover, RGS1 was positively correlated with classical pro-inflammatory cytokines IL1ß and IL6. In periodontitis rat models, AF susceptibility, atrial fibrosis, and inflammatory infiltration were significantly increased, and RGS1 expression in the atrial tissue was upregulated. CONCLUSION: A common gene between AF and periodontitis, RGS1 appears central in linking the two conditions. Immune and inflammatory responses may underlie the interaction between AF and periodontitis.
Subject(s)
Atrial Fibrillation , Animals , Rats , Atrial Fibrillation/genetics , Blotting, Western , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes , Computational Biology , FibrosisABSTRACT
Objective @#To explore the medication law and mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine compounds in the treatment of periodontal disease through data mining, network pharmacology, and molecular docking. @* Methods@#First, data mining was used to search single medicinal materials for the treatment of periodontal disease, and the active components and their action targets were screened. Second, the disease target database was employed to download the targets related to the pathogenesis of periodontal disease, map them with the action targets of traditional Chinese medicine, and obtain the targets that are considered potential targets of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of periodontal disease. Potential targets were analyzed for gene ontology function and signaling pathway. They were then screened to obtain the key targets for the treatment of periodontal disease. Finally, the active components were docked with key targets.@* Results@# Among the traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for the treatment of periodontal disease, Shudihuang, Mudanpi, Danggui, Fuling, Jinyinhua, Shanyao and Zhimu had the highest frequencies. Forty-three active components and 118 action targets were screened, and 52 potential targets were obtained by intersection with 856 disease targets. The molecular functions and biological processes in which potential targets may participate mainly focus on vitamin D biosynthesis and RNA polymerase Ⅱ regulation and involve 96 signaling pathways. Through the analysis of network topology parameters, 11 key targets were obtained. The results of molecular docking showed that the active components and RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT1), cellular tumor antigen p53 (TP53), and mitogen-activated protein kinase-1 (MAPK-1) have good binding activity. @* Conclusion @#Traditional Chinese medicine compounds may play a role in the treatment of periodontal disease by inhibiting alveolar bone absorption, have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and promote tissue repair. The effective treatment of periodontal disease by traditional Chinese medicine compounds provides a more scientific reference to the sustainable development of traditional Chinese medicine.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between genotypic diversity of Streptococcus mutans (Sm) and deciduous teeth caries in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. METHODS: Isolates of Sm were obtained from 17 caries-free and 17 caries-active Uygur preschool children aged from 3 to 5 years. A total of 143 isolates were subcultured, biochemically characterised and identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as Sm and Streptococcus sobrinus (Ss). Then the Sm isolates were genotyped by arbitrarily primed-PCR (AP-PCR). RESULTS: A total of 81 Sm isolates from caries-active subjects and 62 isolates from caries-free subjects were identified by PCR and forty distinct genotypes identified from 143 clinical isolates. In seventeen caries-active group, 9 children had only 1 genotype, 5 children had 2 genotypes, 3 children had 3 genotypes. In seventeen caries-free group, 14 children had only 1 genotype, 3 children had more than 2 genotypes. The Spearman correlation test showed a strong association between genotypic diversity and caries experience (r = 0.342, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Isolates of Sm in caries-active Uygur preschool children show apparent more genetic diversity than those in caries-free children. The genotypes of isolates might be related to differences in caries susceptibility.
