Elucidation of the involvement of PD-1 / PD-L1 pathway in periodontitis: to build a foundation for gene therapy

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19036
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57030:Conservative dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Dental College
• Principal Investigator: Imamura Kentaro 東京歯科大学, 歯学部, 講師 (60755007)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: PD-1/PD-L1機構 / Porphyromonas gingivalis / ヒト歯肉上皮細胞 / 破骨細胞分化 / 歯周炎

Outline of Final Research Achievements

PD-L1 mRNA expression significantly induced in Ca9-22 cells infected with P. gingivalis compared to non-infected control. IFN-γ secretion was significantly inhibited in co-cultured with Ca9-22 cells infected P. gingivalis compared to non-infected control . In the periodontitis model, osteoclast-like cells were observed and Pd-l1 mRNA expression was significantly increased in the ligated side compared to the control side. The number of osteoclast-like cells and mRNA expression of Cat-K and C-fms was significantly decreased in RAW 264.7 cells treated with RANKL and PD-L1 compared to non-treated control. These results suggest that PD-L1 may play an important role in periodontitis via attenuating T cell activation and osteoclast differentiation.

Free Research Field

歯周療法学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

免疫チェックポイント機構と歯周病の関連を明らかにした本研究では，歯周病原細菌の新たな免疫回避システムについての知見が得られた。さらに，歯周病の発症・進行に深く関与している破骨細胞分化への影響も明らかとなった。これらの知見は，歯周病の病態解明のみならず，今後の治療戦略においても貴重な情報が得られたと考えている。