Title
Boldine inhibits the alveolar bone resorption during ligature-induced periodontitis by modulating the Th17/Treg imbalance
Date Issued
01 January 2021
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Castro-Saavedra S.
Fuentes-Barros G.
Melgar-Rodríguez S.
Rivera F.
Carvajal P.
Hernández M.
Cortés B.I.
Cortez C.
Cassels B.K.
Vernal R.
Publisher(s)
Wiley-Blackwell
Abstract
Background: During periodontitis, tooth-supporting alveolar bone is resorbed when there is an increased expression of the pro-osteolytic factor termed receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL), which is responsible for osteoclast differentiation and activation. In periodontitis-affected tissues, the imbalance between T-helper type-17 (Th17) and T-regulatory (Treg) lymphocyte activity favors this RANKL overexpression. In this context, immunotherapeutic strategies aimed at modulating this Th17/Treg imbalance could eventually arrest the RANKL-mediated alveolar bone loss. Boldine has been reported to protect from pathological bone loss during rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis, whose pathogenesis is associated with a Th17/Treg imbalance. However, the effect of boldine on alveolar bone resorption during periodontitis has not been elucidated yet. This study aimed to determine whether boldine inhibits alveolar bone resorption by modulating the Th17/Treg imbalance during periodontitis. Methods: Mice with ligature-induced periodontitis were orally treated with boldine (10/20/40 mg/kg) for 15 consecutive days. Non-treated periodontitis-affected mice and non-ligated mice were used as controls. Alveolar bone loss was analyzed by micro-computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy. Osteoclasts were quantified by histological identification of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive cells. Production of RANKL and its competitive antagonist osteoprotegerin (OPG) were analyzed by ELISA, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and immunohistochemistry. The Th17 and Treg responses were analyzed by quantifying the T-cell frequency and number by flow cytometry. Also, the expression of their signature transcription factors and cytokines were quantified by qPCR. Results: Boldine inhibited the alveolar bone resorption. Consistently, boldine caused a decrease in the osteoclast number and RANKL/OPG ratio in periodontal lesions. Besides, boldine reduced the Th17-lymphocyte detection and response and increased the Treg-lymphocyte detection and response in periodontitis-affected tissues. Conclusion: Boldine, administered orally, inhibited the alveolar bone resorption and modulated the Th17/Treg imbalance during experimental periodontitis.
Start page
123
End page
136
Volume
92
Issue
1
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Odontología, Cirugía oral, Medicina oral
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85087206773
PubMed ID
Source
Journal of Periodontology
ISSN of the container
00223492
Sponsor(s)
We thank Dr. Carolina Vega (Institutional Animal Facility, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de Chile) for sharing her expertise on animal care and use. We are also grateful to the Plataforma Experimental Bio‐CT (FONDEQUIP grant EQM150010, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de Chile) and Ms. Daniela Poblete for performing the micro‐CT analysis. We thank the Morphophysiopathology and Cytodiagnosis Laboratory (Medical Technology School, Universidad Mayor) for histological technical support. We also thank DDS Silvia Torrejón for her valuable support during ELISA experiments. This investigation has been financially supported by FONDECYT grant 1181780 from the Chilean Governmental Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID). EAC is a recipient of a PhD Scholarship from the Graduate School of the Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de Chile. SC‐S is a recipient of a PhD Scholarship PFCHA 21192219 from the ANID. The authors report no conflicts of interest related to this study.
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