MicroRNAs and periodontal disease: a qualitative systematic review of human studies

Abstract

Purpose MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are epigenetic post-transcriptional regulators that modulate gene expression and have been identified as biomarkers for several diseases, including cancer. This study aimed to systematically review the relationship between miRNAs and periodontal disease in humans, and to evaluate the potential of miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of disease. Methods The review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines (reference number CRD42020180683). The MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and SciELO databases were searched for clinical studies conducted in humans investigating periodontal diseases and miRNAs. Expression levels of miRNAs across the different groups were analysed using the collected data. Results A total of 1,299 references were identified in the initial literature search, and 23 articles were finally included in the review. The study designs were heterogeneous, which prevented a meta-analysis of the data. Most of the studies compared miRNA expression levels between patients with periodontitis and healthy controls. The most widely researched miRNA in periodontal diseases was miR-146a. Most studies reported higher expression levels of miR-146a in patients with periodontitis than in healthy controls. In addition, many studies also focused on identifying target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs that were significantly related to periodontal inflammation. Conclusions The results of the studies that we analysed are promising, but diagnostic tests are needed to confirm the use of miRNAs as biomarkers to monitor and aid in the early diagnosis of periodontitis in clinical practice.

Unique miRomics Expression Profiles in Tannerella forsythia-Infected Mandibles during Periodontitis Using Machine Learning

“…As THP-1 monocytes are frequently used to examine innate immune ligand-induced miRNA expression, we observed signifi-cantly increased miR-132 expression with live T. forsythia in this study. The most widely investigated inflammatory miRNA in PD is miR-146a, which was upregulated in 16-week T. forsythia-infected mice as well as overexpressed in saliva of patients with PD [31,100]. It is obvious that the upregulated miRNAs in the current study may also have these functions as it is involved in NF-κB activation for transcription of inflammatory genes.…”

Identification and characterization of non-coding RNA networks in infected macrophages revealing the pathogenesis of F. nucleatum-associated diseases

“…Another study has shown that miR-146a-3p can exert M1 polarization of macrophages by targeting SIRT1 [ 69 ]. A meta-study has found that miR-146a is the most widely researched miRNA in periodontal diseases, and most studies reported higher expression levels of miR-146a in patients with periodontitis than in healthy controls [ 70 ]. miR-146a can also regulate lipid droplet formation by targeting ACSL1, which may be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for atherosclerosis [ 71 ].…”

Epigenetics in susceptibility, progression, and diagnosis of periodontitis

“…ncRNAs are defined as molecules without apparent protein-coding potential that regulate complex cellular behaviors, and they are classified into small RNAs such as miRNAs and lncRNAs by length [49] , [50] . Meta-analysis of miRNA expression in periodontitis and peri-implantitis concluded that miRNA-146a and miRNA-142–3p were statistically significant in periodontitis patients [51] , and miRNA-146a is one of the well-analyzed miRNAs in periodontitis [52] . Notably, miR-146a was reported as negatively regulating the innate immune system, and the concentrations were significantly higher in CP patients, and miRNA-146a expression was inversely correlated with TNFα and IL6 expression [53] .…”