Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition and Periodontitis

The Role of Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition in Patients With Periodontitis (An Immunohistochemistry Study)

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease results is destruction of the attachment apparatus of the teeth and ultimately tooth loss.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process comprises of series of events that influence a polarized epithelial cell to undergo molecular/morphological changes leading to acquisition of mesenchymal cell phenotype. This process is responsible for suppressing epithelial-phenotype and it is known to be triggered by chronic exposure to inflammatory cytokines, Gram-negative bacteria, hypoxia, smoking, and hyperglycemia.

Both periodontitis and EMT share common risk factors/promoters; however, the role of EMT in the pathogenesis of periodontitis is not fully elucidated yet. Potential induction of EMT within periodontal pockets may disrupt epithelial barrier thus facilitating invasion of pathogenic periodontal pathogens to deeper tissues resulting in further tissue breakdown and non-resolving periodontal lesion.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Periodontitis; Periodontal Diseases; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Transcription Factors; Epithelial Attachment; Gram-Negative Bacteria
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Modified Widman flap; Procedure: Gingivectomy

Detailed Description

Periodontitis is a highly prevalent inflammatory disease affecting the attachment apparatus of the teeth, leading to progressive destruction of periodontal ligament and resorption of alveolar bone which if not treated, at early stages, it will lead to tooth loss. It is characterised by presence of a wide diversity of pathogenic bacteria, specifically Gram-negative anaerobes, that possess range of virulence factors responsible for triggering intense inflammatory response. Although this response is protective in nature; however, it leads to undesirable collateral damage to the surrounding tissues that is further aggravated by the aberrant immune response of the host.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process comprises of series of events that influence a polarized epithelial cell to undergo molecular/morphological changes leading to acquisition of mesenchymal cell phenotype. EMT is modulated by range of regulatory pathways; mainly, downstream of TGF-β signaling activity which is evident in many developmental and pathological situations in which EMT is reported, including embryogenesis, inflammation and tumor metastasis. The hallmark of TGFβ signaling is up-regulation of Snail, an E-cadherin repressor. Overexpression of Snail has been found in various fibrotic diseases, including liver fibrosis and renal fibrosis.

E-cadherin is a calcium-dependent homophilic cell adhesion molecule expressed on the cell surfaces of epithelium and is a critical structure for stratification of squamous epithelia. The significant reduction in E-cadherin expression observed in the gingival epithelium during pocket formation and is believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of periodontal disease.

Vimentin is a type III intermediate filament (IF) protein that is expressed in mesenchymal cells. IF, along with tubulin-based microtubules and actin-based microfilaments, comprises the cytoskeleton. All IF proteins are expressed in a highly developmentally-regulated fashion; vimentin is the major cytoskeletal component of mesenchymal cells. Because of this, vimentin is often used as a marker of mesenchymal-derived cells or cells undergoing EMT during both normal development and metastatic progression.

β-catenin is a dual function protein, involved in regulation and coordination of cell-cell adhesion and gene transcription. β-catenin also acts as a morphogen in later stages of embryonic development. Together with TGF-β, an important role of β-catenin is to induce a morphogenic change in epithelial cells. It induces them to abandon their tight adhesion and assume a more mobile and loosely associated mesenchymal phenotype.

Role of EMT on compromising epithelial barrier function of periodontal pocket lining is not fully elucidated yet. Reported risk factors of EMT including prolonged exposure to cytokines, Gram-negative bacteria, tobacco and hypoxia are also relevant to periodontitis. Potential induction of EMT within periodontal pockets may disrupt epithelial barrier thus facilitating invasion of pathogenic periodontal pathogens to deeper tissues resulting in further tissue breakdown and non-resolving periodontal lesion.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 80

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Saif S Saliem, MSc; Phone Number: +964 7901529484; Email: drsaifjuma@codental.uobaghdad.edu.iq
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Ali A Abdulkareem, PhD; Phone Number: +964 7806866717; Email: ali.abbas@codental.uobaghdad.edu.iq

Study Locations

• Iraq
  • Baghdad, Iraq
    • Recruiting
    • College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad
    • Contact: Bashar H Abdullah, PhD; Phone Number: +964 7739201860; Email: drbashar69@yahoo.com
    • Principal Investigator: Ali A Abdulkareem, PhD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants involved in this study are recruited from the patient attending to the Department of Periodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad. Those patients were treated non-surgically by the residents in the department. Primary endpoint of is assessed three months after completion of non-surgical therapy. Patients with persistent pockets at posterior teeth indicated for modified Widman flap are included in the study. Prior to enrollment, aims and details of the study are clearly explained to the patients who then asked to sign the consent form. All procedures in this study followed Helsinki declaration and its later amendments for conducting human researches.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed with generalized periodontitis, unstable, no risk factor
• Selected site should be indicated for surgical treatment by modified Widman flap in posterior area and these sites must exhibit periodontal pockets ≥ 5mm or pockets ≥ 4mm with BOP
• Plaque index score < 10%
• Never smoker or former smoker
• Not currently using systemic or local antimicrobials (at least in the last three months)
• Not currently using a mouth rinse
• In good general health with no evidence of any systemic disease
• Willing to consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Have history of systemic disease e.g., diabetes mellitus
• Periodontal treatment in the last 6 months
• Current participation in other clinical trials
• Pregnant women
• Current smoker
• Not willing to sign the consent form

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Control
• Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Periodontitis; Patients with periodontitis which is defined by interdental clinical attachment loss (CAL) ≥ 2 non-adjacent teeth, or Buccal or Oral CAL ≥ 3 mm with probing pocket depth (PPD) > 3 mm is detectable at ≥2 teeth. All patients should be indicated for periodontal surgery.	Procedure: Modified Widman flap; Administration of anaesthesia; First incision (reversed bevel incision), scalpel is placed at 45 degree, 2mm apical to gingival margin in coronal-apical direction until touching the bone and moved continuously around the teeth without any vertical releasing incisions; Partial mobilization of the mucoperiosteal flap (full thickness flaps both facially and orally) within the attached gingiva to the alveolar crest; Second incision (sulcular incision); Third incision (horizontal incision), also interdentally to remove the delineated tissue and all granulation tissue which is used later for analysis.; Root surface debridement; Flap adaptation, complete coverage interdentally and suturing.
Healthy periodontium; Healthy periodontium is defined by absence of CAL, PPD ≤3 mm, bleeding on probing <10%, and no evidence of radiological bone loss. Gingival samples are collected from subjects referred for gingivectomy for esthetic reasons such as crown lengthening, gummy smile or prior to teeth extraction for orthodontic treatment.	Procedure: Gingivectomy; Administration of anaesthesia; Marking the base of the sulcus with pocket marker tweezer.; First incision (gingivectomy incision), scalpel blade placed 1mm apical to the bleeding points and the incision should be beveled 45 degrees coronally.; Second incision (interdental) to free the tissue which is used for analysis later.; Debriding the area and applying periodontal pack.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Clinical attachment loss (CAL)	CAL is a linear distance (in mm) from cemento-enamel junction to the base of the sulcus/periodontal pocket measured by using a periodontal probe, recorded at six sites per tooth namely; mesio-facial, mid-facial, disto-facial, mesio-oral, mid-oral, disto-oral.	Measured at baseline only before conducting periodontal surgery
Probing pocket depth (PPD)	PPD is the distance (in mm) from the gingival margin to the base of the sulcus/periodontal pocket measured by using a periodontal probe, recorded at six sites per tooth namely; mesio-facial, mid-facial, disto-facial, mesio-oral, mid-oral, disto-oral.	Measured at baseline only before conducting periodontal surgery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Bleeding on probing (BOP)	BOP is measured by inserting a periodontal probe to the bottom of the gingival sulcus/periodontal pocket and moved gently along the tooth (root) surface. If bleeding occurs within 30 seconds after probing, the site is given score (1), and a negative score (0) for the non-bleeding site. BOP is recorded at six sites per tooth namely; mesio-facial, mid-facial, disto-facial, mesio-oral, mid-oral, disto-oral.	Measured at baseline only before conducting periodontal surgery
Immunohistochemical expression of EMT-related markers	Immunohistochemical expressions of four EMT-related markers (E-cadherin, Snail1, vimentin, β-catenin) in gingival samples collected from patients with periodontitis and healthy periodontium are measured.	Measured at baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Baghdad

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 12, 2021
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): August 30, 2022
• Study Completion (Anticipated): August 30, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 30, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 30, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): June 3, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 3, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 30, 2022
• Last Verified: May 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Stomatognathic Diseases; Mouth Diseases; Periodontitis; Periodontal Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: 241621

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No