[Effects of the kynurenine pathway on the osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells].

Objective: To explore the effect of kynurenine pathway on the osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC). Methods: Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from 19 patients with periodontitis (periodontitis group) and 19 periodontally healthy individuals (health group) in Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University from June to October of 2022. Contents of kynurenine and the metabolites in saliva samples were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The expressions of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) were further detected by immunohistochemistry in gingival tissues. The PDLSC used in this study were isolated from extracted teeth for orthodontic treatment in Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University from July to November of 2022. Experiments were then conducted using the cells by incubating with (kynurenine group) or without kynurenine (control group) in vitro. Seven days later, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and assays of ALP activity were performed. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was utilized to detect the expressions of osteogenic related genes ALP, osteocalcin (OCN), runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), collagen type-Ⅰ (COL-Ⅰ) as well as the kynurenine pathway-associated genes AhR, cytochrome P450 family (CYP) 1A1, CYP1B1. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of RUNX2, osteopontin (OPN) and AhR proteins on day 10 and alizarin red staining was performed to observe the formation of mineral nodules on day 21 in control group and kynurenine group. Results: Salivary concentrations of kynurenine [8.26 (0, 19.60) nmol/L] and kynurenic acid [11.4 (3.34, 13.52) nmol/L] were significantly higher in the periodontitis group than in the health group [0.75(0, 4.25) nmol/L, 1.92(1.34, 3.88) nmol/L] (Z=-2.84, P=0.004; Z=-3.61, P<0.001). The expression levels of IDO (18.33±2.22) and AhR (44.14±13.63) in gingival tissues of periodontitis patients were significantly higher than that of the health group (12.21±2.87, 15.39±5.14) (t=3.38, P=0.015; t=3.42, P=0.027). In vitro, the ALP activity of PDLSC in the kynurenine group (291.90±2.35) decreased significantly compared with the control group (329.30±19.29) (t=3.34, P=0.029). The mRNA expression levels of ALP, OCN and RUNX2 in the kynurenine group (0.43±0.12, 0.78±0.09, 0.66±0.10) were decreased compared with the control group (1.02±0.22, 1.00±0.11, 1.00±0.01) (t=4.71, P=0.003; t=3.23, P=0.018; t=6.73, P<0.001), while the levels of AhR and CYP1A1 were increased in the kynurenine group (1.43±0.07, 1.65±0.10) compared with those in the control group (1.01±0.12, 1.01±0.14) (t=5.23, P=0.006; t=6.59, P<0.001). No significant difference was observed in COL-Ⅰ and CYP1B1 mRNA levels between groups. The protein levels of OPN, RUNX2 (0.82±0.05, 0.87±0.03) were reduced and that of AhR (1.24±0.14) was increased in the kynurenine group compared with those in the control group (1.00±0.00, 1.00±0.00, 1.00±0.00) (t=6.79, P=0.003; t=7.95, P=0.001; t=3.04, P=0.039). Conclusions: Over-activated kynurenine pathway in periodontitis patients can promote upregulation of AhR and suppress the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSC.目的： 探索犬尿氨酸代谢通路对牙周膜干细胞（periodontal ligament stem cells，PDLSC）成骨分化的影响，为研究牙周炎微环境对牙周组织再生的影响提供依据。 方法： 于2022年6至10月在南京大学医学院附属口腔医院牙周病科、口腔综合科收集19例牙周炎患者（牙周炎组）和19例牙周健康者（牙周健康组）的非刺激性唾液，采用超高效液相色谱-串联质谱检测两组受试者唾液中犬尿氨酸及其代谢产物的含量。对牙周炎组和牙周健康组的牙龈组织通过免疫组化检测吲哚胺2，3-双加氧酶（indoleamine 2，3-dioxygenase，IDO）与芳香烃受体（aryl hydrocarbon receptor，AhR）的表达情况。收集因正畸治疗需要拔除的前磨牙5颗（来自2022年7至11月南京大学医学院附属口腔医院口腔颌面外科12~18岁的5例就诊患者），从离体牙上提取PDLSC，使用成骨诱导分化培养基（对照组）或含有20 μmol/L犬尿氨酸的成骨诱导分化培养基（犬尿氨酸组）培养7 d，对成骨诱导的PDLSC进行碱性磷酸酶（alkaline phosphatase，ALP）染色和ALP活性测定。通过实时荧光定量PCR（real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR，RT-qPCR）检测对照组和犬尿氨酸组PDLSC成骨相关基因ALP、骨钙素、runt相关转录因子2（runt-related transcription factor 2，RUNX2）、Ⅰ型胶原蛋白（collagen type-Ⅰ，COL-Ⅰ）mRNA表达和犬尿氨酸通路相关基因AhR、细胞色素P450家族成员（cytochrome P450 family，CYP）1A1、1B1 mRNA的表达。通过蛋白质印迹法检测对照组和犬尿氨酸组RUNX2、骨桥蛋白（osteopontin，OPN）和AhR蛋白表达情况。培养21 d时，用茜素红染色评估对照组和犬尿氨酸组PDLSC矿化情况。 结果： 牙周炎组唾液中犬尿氨酸［8.26（0，19.60）nmol/L］及犬尿喹啉酸［11.4（3.34，13.52）nmol/L］含量均显著高于牙周健康组［分别为0.75（0，4.25）、1.92（1.34，3.88）nmol/L］（Z=-2.84，P=0.004；Z=-3.61，P<0.001）。牙周炎组牙龈组织中IDO（18.33±2.22）和AhR的表达（44.14±13.63）均显著高于牙周健康组（分别为12.21±2.87、15.39±5.14）（t=3.38，P=0.015；t=3.42，P=0.027）。ALP活性测定显示，与对照组（329.30±19.29）相比，犬尿氨酸组PDLSC ALP活性（291.90±2.35）显著下降（t=3.34，P=0.029）。RT-qPCR结果显示，犬尿氨酸组PDLSC ALP、骨钙素和RUNX2表达（0.43±0.12、0.78±0.09、0.66±0.10）均较对照组（1.02±0.22、1.00±0.11、1.00±0.01）显著下降（t=4.71，P=0.003；t=3.23，P=0.018；t=6.73，P<0.001），AhR、CYP1A1 mRNA表达（1.43±0.07、1.65±0.10）均较对照组（1.01±0.12、1.01±0.14）显著升高（t=5.23，P=0.006；t=6.59，P<0.001），两组间COL-Ⅰ、CYP1B1 mRNA表达差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。蛋白质印迹法结果显示，犬尿氨酸组OPN、RUNX2表达（0.82±0.05、0.87±0.03）与对照组（1.00±0.00、1.00±0.00）相比均显著下降（t=6.79，P=0.003；t=7.95，P=0.001），AhR表达（1.24±0.14）显著高于对照组（1.00±0.00）（t=3.04，P=0.039）。 结论： 牙周炎患者犬尿氨酸通路异常激活，不仅能上调AhR相关通路，还能抑制PDLSC的成骨向分化。.