Investigation of epigenetic change in the epithelial cells induced by periodontopathic bacteria

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K09559
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57020:Oral pathobiological science-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Dental College
• Principal Investigator: Ishihara Kazuyuki 東京歯科大学, 歯学部, 教授 (00212910)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 菊池 有一郎 東京歯科大学, 歯学部, 講師 (30410418) ; 柴山 和子 東京歯科大学, 歯学部, 講師 (60408317) ; 国分 栄仁 東京歯科大学, 歯学部, 講師 (70453785)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: Treponema denticola / gene expression / epigenetic regulation / periodontitis / periodontal microbiome

Outline of Final Research Achievements

By the metagenomic analysis of functional genes of the subgingival plaque, genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, amino acid metabolism and replication and repair were changed. Among them, the genes involved in phenylalanine bio-synthesis was consistent with previous reports. In the epithelial cells infected by T. denticola, proteins involved in the migration were hydrolyzed. By ATAC-seq analysis, the DNA with regions of open chromatin was very small in cells infected by T. denticola compared with those by P. gingivalis and uninfected cells. These results suggested the regulation of gene expression in the epithelial cells by T. denticola and further analysis using mixed infection model is underway.

Free Research Field

微生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

歯周炎は、歯肉溝内の菌種に、病原性の強いものが増えることによって引きおこされると考えられている。本研究では、歯周炎病巣から高頻度で分離されるT. denticolaは、同じ歯周炎に関わるPorphyromonas gingivalisと感染時の遺伝子発現を比べた。その結果、T. denticolaの感染した細胞では遺伝子発現の認められる部分が少なく、細胞の機能を抑制する事によって病原性を発揮している可能性が認められた。