Alanbari Basma F, Al-Taweel Firas B, Cooper Paul R, Milward Mike R
Department of Periodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad, Bab Al Mudam, Baghdad, Iraq.
Department of Dentistry, Periodontics Branch, Al-Rafidain University College, Baghdad, Iraq.
Eur J Dent. 2025 May;19(2):428-437. doi: 10.1055/s-0044-1792011. Epub 2024 Dec 30.
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process that shifts cellular phenotype. It is linked to several different inflammatory diseases including periodontitis. This study was conducted to investigate the involvement of the EMT process in an experimental periodontitis (EP) model.
Second upper molars of Wistar albino male rats were ligated to induce periodontitis, while controls were not ligated. The animals were sacrificed after 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days ( = 6 for each time point). The maxillae were resected, posterior to the incisor teeth, and the gingival tissue surrounding teeth were analyzed. Alveolar bone loss (ABL), epithelial thickness, and the number of inflammatory cells were measured at each time point. Expressions of EMT-related biomarkers (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Snail1, Twist1, and vimentin) were assessed using the immunohistochemical technique. All experiments were performed in triplicate.
Inferential comparisons were performed by the kruskall-wallis test. To determine the correlation between the dependent and independent variables ,Spearman's correlation test was used.
ABL, epithelial thickness, and inflammatory cell count were gradually increased throughout the EP study period. Switching of E-cadherin/N-cadherin was evident and associated with increased nuclear expression of Snail1 and Twist1. Additionally, positive cytoplasmic expression of vimentin was detected from day 7 and increased at subsequent time points. Histoscore of E-cadherin was negatively and significantly correlated with N-cadherin and Snail1. Furthermore, Snail1 and Twist1 histoscores were significantly and positively correlated.
The results demonstrated induction of an EMT phenotype in the EP model. This was supported by cadherin switching and positive vimentin expression along with nuclear translocation of Snail1 and Twist.
上皮-间质转化（EMT）是一种改变细胞表型的过程。它与包括牙周炎在内的几种不同炎症性疾病相关。本研究旨在调查EMT过程在实验性牙周炎（EP）模型中的参与情况。
结扎Wistar白化雄性大鼠的上颌第二磨牙以诱导牙周炎，而对照组不进行结扎。在0、3、7、14和21天（每个时间点n = 6）后处死动物。切除切牙后方的上颌骨，并分析牙齿周围的牙龈组织。在每个时间点测量牙槽骨吸收（ABL）、上皮厚度和炎症细胞数量。使用免疫组织化学技术评估EMT相关生物标志物（E-钙黏蛋白、N-钙黏蛋白、Snail1、Twist1和波形蛋白）的表达。所有实验均重复进行三次。
采用kruskall-wallis检验进行推断性比较。为了确定因变量和自变量之间的相关性，使用Spearman相关性检验。
在整个EP研究期间，ABL、上皮厚度和炎症细胞计数逐渐增加。E-钙黏蛋白/N-钙黏蛋白的转换明显，并与Snail1和Twist1的核表达增加相关。此外，从第7天开始检测到波形蛋白的阳性细胞质表达，并在随后的时间点增加。E-钙黏蛋白的组织学评分与N-钙黏蛋白和Snail1呈显著负相关。此外，Snail1和Twist1的组织学评分呈显著正相关。
结果表明在EP模型中诱导了EMT表型。这得到了钙黏蛋白转换、波形蛋白阳性表达以及Snail1和Twist核转位的支持。
