Oxydative stress affects tight junction in gingival epithelium: Preventing the onset of periodontal disease

• Project/Area Number: 18K17049
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57030:Conservative dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Kochi Shinsuke 岡山大学, 歯学部, 客員研究員 (70803138)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2020)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000); Fiscal Year 2020: ¥520,000 (Direct Cost: ¥400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥120,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,950,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥450,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000)
• Keywords: 酸化ストレス / タイトジャンクション / 歯肉上皮 / 抗酸化剤 / 歯肉上皮細胞 / 歯周炎発症メカニズムの解明

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease caused by bacterial infection, but the mechanism of its onset is unknown. Therefore, it was hypothesized that oxidative stress, which is associated with systemic diseases, affects the barrier function of gingival epithelial cells. As a result, it was found that the expression of tight junction proteins, which are responsible for the barrier function, is reduced by oxidative stress stimulation, and the barrier function is reduced. In addition, the presence of antioxidants reduced these effects even with oxidative stress.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

歯周病は、一度発症すると治療が難しいため、発症を予防することが非常に重要である。また、歯周病は世界中で最もたくさんの罹患者がいる疾患であり、近年では種々の全身疾患と関連するという報告がある。
本研究は、歯周病の発症メカニズムを明らかにすることで、歯周病の発症予防法の確立を目指す。これを達成することで、歯周病を撲滅するだけでなく、全身の健康にも寄与することができる。