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Potential role of periodontal pathogens in compromising epithelial barrier function by inducing epithelial‐mesenchymal transition
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Background and Objective

Epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process by which epithelial cells acquire a mesenchymal‐like phenotype and this may be induced by exposure to gram‐negative bacteria. It has been proposed that EMT is responsible for compromising epithelial barrier function in the pathogenesis of several diseases. However, the possible role of EMT in the pathogenesis of periodontitis has not previously been investigated. The aim of this study therefore was to investigate whether gram‐negative, anaerobic periodontal pathogens could trigger EMT in primary oral keratinocytes in vitro.

Material and Methods

Primary oral keratinocytes were harvested from labial mandibular mucosa of Wistar Han rats. Cells were exposed to heat‐killed Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis (100 bacteria/epithelial cell) and to 20 μg/mL of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide over an 8‐day period. Exposure to bacteria did not significantly change epithelial cell number or vitality in comparison with unstimulated controls at the majority of time‐points examined. Expression of EMT marker genes was determined by semiquantitative RTPCR at 1, 5, and 8 days following stimulation. The expression of EMT markers was also assessed by immunofluorescence (E‐cadherin and vimentin) and using immunocytochemistry to determine Snail activation. The loss of epithelial monolayer coherence, in response to bacterial challenge, was determined by measuring trans‐epithelial electrical resistance. The induction of a migratory phenotype was investigated using scratch‐wound and transwell migration assays.

Results

Exposure of primary epithelial cell cultures to periodontal pathogens was associated with a significant decrease in transcription (~3‐fold) of E‐cadherin and the upregulation of N‐cadherin, vimentin, Snail, matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (~3‐5 fold) and toll‐like receptor 4. Bacterial stimulation (for 8 days) also resulted in an increased percentage of vimentin‐positive cells (an increase of 20% after stimulation with P. gingivalis and an increase of 30% after stimulation with F. nucleatum, compared with controls). Furthermore, periodontal pathogens significantly increased the activation of Snail (60%) and cultures exhibited a decrease in electrical impedance (P < .001) in comparison with unexposed controls. The migratory ability of the cells increased significantly in response to bacterial stimulation, as shown by both the number of migrated cells and scratch‐wound closure rates.

Conclusion

Prolonged exposure of primary rat oral keratinocyte cultures to periodontal pathogens generated EMT‐like features, which introduces the possibility that this process may be involved in loss of epithelial integrity during periodontitis.

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Publication Date
Tue Nov 01 2022
Journal Name
Japanese Dental Science Review
Pathogenesis of periodontitis – A potential role for epithelial-mesenchymal transition
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Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process comprising cellular and molecular events which result in cells shifting from an epithelial to a mesenchymal phenotype. Periodontitis is a destructive chronic disease of the periodontium initiated in response to a dysbiotic microbiome, and dominated by Gram-negative bacteria in the subgingival niches accompanied by an aberrant immune response in susceptible subjects. Both EMT and periodontitis share common risk factors and drivers, including Gram-negative bacteria, excess inflammatory cytokine production, smoking, oxidative stress and diabetes mellitus. In addition, periodontitis is characterized by down-regulation of key epithelial markers such as E-cadherin together with up-regulation of

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Publication Date
Tue Nov 01 2022
Journal Name
Japanese Dental Science Review
Pathogenesis of periodontitis – A potential role for epithelial-mesenchymal transition
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Publication Date
Tue Sep 05 2017
Journal Name
Cell Adhesion &amp; Migration
Periodontal pathogens promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition in oral squamous carcinoma cells <i>in vitro</i>
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Publication Date
Wed Mar 04 2026
Journal Name
Journal Of Molecular Pathology
From Dysbiosis to Tissue Destruction: Periodontal Pathogens as Inducers of Gingival Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition (A Narrative Review)
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Periodontitis is a dysbiosis-driven inflammatory disease in which a pathogenic subgingival biofilm disrupts the host–microbe equilibrium and promotes progressive loss of tooth-supporting tissues. While periodontal destruction has traditionally been explained mainly through the host immune response, increasing experimental and clinical evidence suggests that epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like changes in the gingival epithelium may contribute to barrier failure and tissue remodeling during disease progression. EMT is characterized by reduced epithelial adhesion and polarity, alongside a shift toward a mesenchymal-like phenotype with enhanced motility and impaired epithelial barrier function. This narrative review focuses

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Publication Date
Thu Jan 01 2026
Journal Name
Novel Research In Microbiology Journal
Turning Barrier Cells into Invaders: The Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Signature of Porphyromonas gingivalis
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Publication Date
Thu Jul 04 2019
Journal Name
Journal Of Research In Medical And Dental Science
The Role of Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition Process in Inflammatory Gingival Hyperplasia
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Publication Date
Tue Dec 27 2022
Journal Name
Journal Of Periodontal Research
Gingival tissue samples from periodontitis patients demonstrate epithelial–mesenchymal transition phenotype
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Publication Date
Tue Dec 27 2022
Journal Name
Journal Of Periodontal Research
Gingival tissue samples from periodontitis patients demonstrate epithelial–mesenchymal transition phenotype
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Abstract<sec><title>Objective

To determine the expression of key epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in gingival tissue samples collected from patients with periodontitis.

Background

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition is a process responsible for shifting epithelial‐phenotype to mesenchymal‐phenotype leading to loss of epithelial‐barrier function. Thus, EMT could be involved as a pathogenic mechanism in periodontitis as both conditions share common promoters and signalling pathways.

Materials and Methods

Gingival tissue samples were collected fro

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Publication Date
Wed Apr 01 2020
Journal Name
Brazilian Dental Journal
In Vitro Homeostasis of Rat Oral Epithelial Cell Cultures Following Withdrawal of Periodontal Pathogens
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Abstract Inflammation of periodontal tissues is the consequence of interaction between periodontal pathogens and immune system. This is associated with increased expression of inflammatory cytokines, which may exert destructive effect to the periodontal tissues when released over long period. The aim of this study was to chronologically track the homeostasis of oral keratinocytes following removal of periodontal pathogens. This was done by investigating expression of selected inflammatory markers and integrity of epithelial monolayers in vitro. Rat oral keratinocytes were stimulated with heat-killed Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis over 7-days then bacteria were washed away and epithelial cells re-cultured for 3-

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Publication Date
Fri Jun 16 2023
Journal Name
Iraqi Journal Of Pharmaceutical Sciences ( P-issn 1683 - 3597 E-issn 2521 - 3512)
Role of Fasting Mimicking Diet in Farnesoid x Receptor for Suppressing Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition, Cell Cycle Progression, and Viability of Prostate Cancer Cells
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The systemic and resistant nature of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancers (mCRPC) renders it largely incurable even after intensive multimodal therapy. Proliferation, survival, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are three fundamental events that are deeply linked to carcinogenesis.  Hence, it is necessary to find a new combination of several therapies, targeting those vital mechanisms without causing side effects. Significant research works have shown differential low expression of the metabolic Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in primary and metastatic prostate cancer suggesting their importance in prostate pathogenesis. Obticholic acid (INT 747), a potent FXR agonist is widely used in primary biliary chola

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