Peri-implantitis, which is characterized by dense inflammatory infiltrates and
increased osteoclast activity, can lead to alveolar bone destruction and
implantation failure. miRNAs participate in the regulation of various
inflammatory diseases, such as periodontitis and osteoporosis. Therefore, the
present study aimed to investigate the differential expression of miRNAs in
canine peri-implantitis and to explore the functions of their target genes. An
miRNA sequence analysis was used to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in
peri-implantitis. Under the criteria of a fold-change >1.5 and
P<0.01, 8 up-regulated and 30 down-regulated miRNAs
were selected for predictions of target genes and their biological functions.
Based on the results of Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analyses, these
miRNAs may fine-tune the inflammatory process in peri-implantitis through an
intricate mechanism. The results of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR)
revealed that let-7g, miR-27a, and miR-145 may
play important roles in peri-implantitis and are worth further investigation.
The results of the present study provide insights into the potential biological
effects of the differentially expressed miRNAs, and specific enrichment of
target genes involved in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling
pathway was observed. These findings highlight the intricate and specific roles
of miRNAs in inflammation and osteoclastogenesis, both of which are key aspects
of peri-implantitis, and thus may contribute to future investigations of the
etiology, underlying mechanism, and treatment of peri-implantitis.