To examine the expression and regulation of fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5/irisin (FNDC5/irisin) in primary human periodontal ligament (hPDL) cells, dental pulp stem cells (hDPCs) and osteoblasts (hOBs). FNDC5/irisin was identified in sections of paraffin embedded rat maxillae, cryo-sections of 3D cultured spheroids hPDL cells, hDPCs and hOBs, 2D cultured hPDL cells, hDPCs and hOBs by immunohistochemistry. The expression of FNDC5/irisin was identified by qPCR, followed by sequencing of the qPCR product. Regulation of FNDC5/irisin expression in hPDL cells, hDPCs and hOBs were evaluated after administration of different concentrations of irisin and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). qPCR and ELISA were used to identify expression and secretion of FNDC5/irisin in odontoblast-like differentiation of hDPCs. FNDC5/irisin was confirmed to be present in rat periodontium and dental pulp regions, as well as in 2D and 3D cultured hPDL cells, hDPCs and hOBs. BLAST analyses verified the generated nucleotide alignments matched human FNDC5/irisin. FNDC5/irisin gene expression was enhanced during odontoblast-like differentiation of hDPCs whereas the secretion of the protein was decreased compared to control. The protein signals in rat periodontal and pulpal tissues were higher than that of alveolar bone, and the expression of FNDC5/irisin was differently regulated by recombinant irisin and ATRA in hPDL cells and hDPCs compared to hOBs. FNDC5/irisin expression was verified in rodent periodontium and dental pulp, and in hPDL cells, hDPCs and hOBs. The FNDC5/irisin expression was regulated by recombinant irisin and ATRA. Finally, expression and secretion of FNDC5/irisin were affected during odontoblast-like differentiation of hDPCs.

Testicular Germ Cell Tumour (TGCT) is one of the most common tumours in young men. Increasing evidence shows that the extracellular matrix has a key role in the prognosis and metastasis of various human cancers. This study analysed the relationship between the matrix protein ameloblastin (AMBN) and potential biological markers associated with TGCT diagnosis and prognosis. The relationship between AMBN and TGCT prognosis was determined by bioinformatic analysis using the expression profiles of three RNAs (long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNAs) from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and available clinical information of the corresponding patients. Prediction and validation of competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory networks related to AMBN was performed. AMBN and its associated ceRNA regulatory network were found to be related to the recurrence of TGCT, and LINC02701 may be used as a diagnostic factor in TGCT. Furthermore, we identified PELATON (Plaque Enriched LncRNA In Atherosclerotic And Inflammatory Bowel Macrophage Regulation) as an independent prognostic factor for TGCT progression-free interval.

In this study, we developed and characterised enhanced chitosan/polyethylene oxide (PEO) nanofibre scaffolds using solution blow spinning (SBS) for potential application in skin tissue engineering. SBS enabled the efficient and scalable production of fibre matrices with precise morphology control, facilitating the integration of PEO to improve spinnability, 100X the speed of electron spinning. Following fabrication, fibres were subjected to potassium carbonate neutralisation to reduce PEO content, improving chitosan stability in aqueous environments. Characterisation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) confirmed structural integrity post-neutralisation and the successful incorporation with bioactive additives. Platelet lysate (PL) was incorporated to introduce growth factors, and tannic acid (TA) was added for antibacterial properties and enhanced mechanical stability through potential crosslinking. Mechanical testing showed that the optimised PL- and TA-enriched scaffolds exhibited the highest mechanical performance, with Young’s modulus of 7.0 ± 0.6 MPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 26.4 ± 2.3 MPa, elongation at break of 16.5 ± 1.7%, and toughness of 3.0 ± 0.3 MJ m⁻³ which is within the range of human skin. At the same time, SEM and ATR-FTIR analyses confirmed the stability and distribution of these functional agents within the fibre network. Biocompatibility tests with normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) indicated low cytotoxicity, appropriate cell adhesion and proliferation over 14 days in culture, suggesting these scaffolds as promising candidates for wound healing and skin regeneration applications.

The aim of this study was to identify and validate in vitro conditions that may mimic the translational, cytokine and chemokine profiles observed in human inflamed gingiva in vivo. Primary human gingiva fibroblast cells (HFIB-G) were cultured under serum starvation conditions (0 - 10 %), supplemented with increasing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentrations (0.1, 1, or 10 µg/ml) from two bacterial strains E. coli and P. gingivalis and 0.1, 1, or 10 ng/ml recombinant interleukin 1β (IL-1β), alone or in combinations. The levels of cytokines/chemokines were measured in the cell culture medium by Luminex, and gene expression was quantified by Affymetrix microarrays at 24, 48 and 72 h. Inflammation markers were not elevated after stimulation with P. gingivalis LPS, while E. coli LPS and IL-1β individually increased the secretion of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) to the cell culture medium. IL-1β administration also increased the secretion of several factors, including tumor necrosis factor (TNFα). However, the combination of 1 µg/ml E. coli LPS, 1 ng/ml IL-1β and serum starvation led to increased secretion of IL-6, TNFα, in addition to other factors found in inflamed tissue. Gene expression analyses revealed that this combination not only enhanced the expression interleukins/chemokines genes but also T helper cell signaling and matrix metalloproteinases. Serum reduction in cell culture medium together with the administration of E. coli LPS and IL-1β resulted in gene expression and secreted cytokine/chemokine profiles similar to that found in vivo during chronic inflammation.

Aim: This study aims to comprehensively analyse the developmental progress of bone graft materials and barrier membranes in the field of oral-maxillofacial bone regeneration, with a particular emphasis on emerging therapeutic approaches for bone regeneration. Materials and methods: This study systematically searched 16 clinical trial registries using key terms such as “bone regeneration” and “osteoconduction” to identify relevant trials. The retrieved studies were then categorized and analysed on the basis of registration year, research phase, material/drug classification, and geographical distribution. Results: In the field of bone graft materials and barrier membranes, clinical trials involving synthetic bone graft materials ( N = 90) and xenogeneic bone graft materials ( N = 67) have been the most common. In the category of barrier membranes, collagen membranes still dominate ( N = 53), whereas other natural membranes, such as amniotic and chorionic membranes, are in clinical trials. Resorbable polyester membranes ( N = 24), titanium mesh ( N = 13) and nonresorbable polytetrafluoroethylene membranes ( N = 11) are commonly studied barrier membranes. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) ( N = 71) is the most frequently used type of bioactive adjuvant. Some trials have explored the synergistic effects of statins ( N = 17) and plant-derived active extracts ( N = 16). Conclusion: Research on bone regeneration is undergoing a paradigm shift from the conventional “bone graft + barrier membrane” approach to integrated multicomponent strategies. These advanced strategies combine tunable biodegradable scaffolds, growth factors, and small-molecule drugs to achieve personalized and cost-effective bone defect repair. Future research priorities will focus on optimizing material degradation kinetics and spatial maintenance properties to enhance clinical outcomes.