N-acyl homoserine lactones lactonase est816 suppresses biofilm formation and periodontitis in rats mediated by Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans

ABSTRACT

Aims

The current study aimed to explore the adjuvant therapeutic effect of N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs)-lactonase est816 on Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans) biological behaviors and periodontitis progression.

Methods

The inhibitory properties of est816 were detected by live/dead bacterial staining, scanning electron microscope (SEM), crystal-violet staining and reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Biocompatibility of est816 on human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) and human gingival epithelial cells (HGEs) was evaluated by CCK8 and ELISA. The ligature-induced periodontitis model was established in rats. Micro computed tomography and immunohistochemical and histological staining served to evaluate the effect of est816 on the prevention of periodontitis in vivo.

Results

est816 significantly attenuated biofilm formation, reduced the mRNA expression of cytolethal distending toxin, leukotoxin and poly-N-acetyl glucosamine (PNAG) and downregulated expressions of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α with low cell toxicity. In vivo investigations revealed est816 decreased alveolar bone resorption, suppressed matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression and increased osteoprotegerin expression.

Conclusion

est816 inhibited A. actinomycetemcomitans biofilm formation and virulence release, resulting in anti-inflammation and soothing of periodontitis in rats, indicating that est816 could be investigated in further research on periodontal diseases.

KEYWORDS:

• Acyl-homoserine lactones
• Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans
• biofilm
• virulence factor
• periodontitis

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the 2021 Disciplinary Construction Project in School of Dentistry, Anhui Medical University (No: 2021kqxkFY09), Natural Science Foundation of Universities of Anhui province (KJ2020A0164), 2022 Disciplinary Construction Project in School of Dentistry, Anhui Medical University (2022xkfyhz08), the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province (No. 2008085MH255), Research Fund of Anhui Institute of translational medicine (No: 2022zhyx-C58) and Innovation Fund of the Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

ZZ and WJ contributed to conception and design of the research, interpretation and wrote the paper. LX and WZ performed the experiments, data acquisition and analysis. ZX and LW were responsible for the management and supervision of the experiment. Prof. CT and Prof. ZJ were the chief technical officers. All authors have been involved in drafting and revising the manuscript critically and have approved the final version for publication.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/20002297.2023.2301200.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Universities of Anhui province [KJ2020A0164]; 2021 Disciplinary Construction Project in School of Dentistry, Anhui Medical University; Natural Science Foundation of Universities of Anhui province; 2022 Disciplinary Construction Project in School of Dentistry, Anhui Medical University; the Natural Scie [2021kqxkFY09]; 2022 Disciplinary Construction Project in School of Dentistry, Anhui Medical University [2022xkfyhz08]; the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province [2008085MH255]; Research Fund of Anhui Institute of translational medicine [2022zhyx-C58]; Innovation Fund of the Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong .