Frontiers in Microbiology (Jun 2023)

Porphyromonas gingivalis induces an inflammatory response via the cGAS-STING signaling pathway in a periodontitis mouse model

  • Rong Bi,
  • Yanling Yang,
  • Hongwei Liao,
  • Guang Ji,
  • Yan Ma,
  • Lukui Cai,
  • Jingyan Li,
  • Jingsi Yang,
  • Mingbo Sun,
  • Jiangli Liang,
  • Li Shi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1183415
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease initiated by periodontopathogenic bacteria in the dental plaque biofilms. Understanding the role of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a keystone pathogen associated with chronic periodontitis, in the inflammatory response is crucial. Herein, we investigated whether P. gingivalis infection triggers the expression of the type I IFN gene and various cytokines and leads to activation of the cGAMP synthase–stimulator of IFN genes (cGAS-STING) pathway both in vitro and in a mouse model. Additionally, in an experimental model of periodontitis using P. gingivalis, StingGt mice showed lower levels of inflammatory cytokines and bone resorption than wild-type mice. Furthermore, we report that a STING inhibitor (SN-011) significantly decreased inflammatory cytokine production and osteoclast formation in a periodontitis mouse model with P. gingivalis. In addition, STING agonist (SR-717) -treated periodontitis mice displayed enhanced macrophage infiltration and M1 macrophage polarization in periodontal lesions compared with that in vehicle-treated periodontitis mice. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the cGAS-STING signaling pathway may be one of the key mechanisms crucial for the P. gingivalis-induced inflammatory response that leads to chronic periodontitis.

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