Association between serum miRNAs and gingival gene expression in an obese rat model

Introduction
Recent studies have reported a relationship between periodontitis and obesity; however, the mechanisms of obesity’s effects on periodontitis are not well understood. On the other hand, microRNAs (miRNAs) are known to play key roles in the post-transcriptional regulation gene expression by suppressing translation and protein synthesis. We examined the association between obesity-related miRNAs and gene expression in gingival tissue using miRNA–messenger RNA (mRNA) pairing analysis in an obese rat model.

Methods
Sixteen male Wistar rats aged 8 weeks old were divided into two groups: the control group was fed a normal powdered food for 8 weeks, and the obesity group was fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks. Distance from the cement–enamel junction to the alveolar bone crest of the first molars was measured. miRNA microarray analysis was performed on samples of serum and gingival tissue; the resulting data were used to calculate fold changes in miRNA levels in the obesity group relative to the control group, and miRNA–mRNA pairing analysis was performed to identify mRNAs potentially targeted by miRNAs of interest.

Results
Alveolar bone loss in the obesity group exceeded that in the control group (p = .017). miRNA–mRNA pairing analysis identified an association between 4 miRNAs (miR-759, miR-9a-3p, miR-203b-3p, and miR-878) that were differentially expressed in the obesity and control groups and 7 genes (Ly86, Arid5b, Rgs18, Mlana, P2ry13, Kif1b, and Myt1) expressed in gingival tissue.

Conclusion
This study revealed that several miRNAs play an important role in the mechanism of periodontal disease progression induced by the obesity.

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: [Maruyama, T, Kobayashi, T, Sugiura, Y, Yoneda, T, Ekuni, D, Morita, M. Association between serum miRNAs and gingival gene expression in an obese rat model. J Periodont Res. 2022; 00: 1– 8. doi:10.1111/jre.12979], which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/jre.12979. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages there of by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.

This fulltext is available in Mar. 2023.