BackgroundThe hyperglycemic microenvironment induced by diabetes mellitus aggravates the in ammatory response, in which the inositol-requiring enzyme-1α (IRE1α) signal transduction pathway of the unfolded protein response (UPR) participates. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism by which hyperglycemia regulates the IRE1α signaling pathway and affects endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis in human gingival epithelium in periodontitis with diabetes mellitus (DP).
MethodsHuman gingival epithelium samples from healthy subjects, subjects with periodontitis and subjects with DP were collected, in vitro cultures of human gingival epithelial cells were challenged with a hyperglycemic microenvironment to observe the effects of diabetes on periodontal in ammation and to assess UPR-IRE1α signaling in human gingival epithelium in DP. Subsequently, RNA sequencing (RNAseq) data was analyzed to investigate the expression of ER-related genes in human gingival epithelium.Furthermore, to explore the key role of serpin family H member 1 (SERPINH1) in the regulation of UPR-IRE1α signaling in a hyperglycemic microenvironment, experiments in SERPINH1-knockdown and SERPINH1-overexpression models were established in vitro.
ResultsDiabetes causes a hyperin ammatory response in human gingival epithelium, which accelerates periodontal in ammation. A hyperglycemic microenvironment inhibited the inositol-requiring enzyme-1α / X-box binding protein 1 (IRE1α/XBP1) axis, decreased the expression of glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78), and ultimately impaired the UPR, causing ER stress to be prolonged or more severe in human gingival epithelium. The RNA-seq and experiments revealed that the mechanism by which periodontitis is aggravated in individuals with diabetes mellitus may involve decreased SERPINH1 expression. SERPINH1 might act as an activator of IRE1α, maintaining human gingival epithelium homeostasis, suppressing nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway and reducing NOD-like receptor, pyrin domain containing protein 3 (NLRP3) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) expression by preventing prolonged ER stress induced by highglucose conditions.
ConclusionRegulation of the UPR transducer IRE1α by SERPINH1 alleviates DP by mitigating prolonged ER stress.