(1) Background: Peptides are appealing as pharmacological materials because they are easily produced, safe, and tolerable. Despite increasing gum-care awareness, periodontitis is still prevalent and is influenced by factors like high sugar consumption, smoking, and aging. Porphyromonas gingivalis is considered a major etiologic agent of periodontitis and activates the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) but is absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasomes, resulting in pro-inflammatory cytokine release. (2) Methods: We examined the anti-inflammatory effects of 18 peptides derived from human stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) on THP-1 macrophages. Inflammation was induced by P. gingivalis, and the anti-inflammatory effects were analyzed using molecular biological techniques. In a mouse periodontitis model, alveolar bone resorption was assessed using micro-CT. (3) Results: Of the 18 SDF-1-derived peptides, S10 notably reduced IL-1β and TNF-α secretion. S10 also diminished the P. gingivalis-induced expression of NLRP3, AIM2, ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein), caspase-1, and IL-1β. Furthermore, S10 attenuated the enhanced TLR (toll-like receptor) signaling pathway and decreased the phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). In addition, S10 mitigated alveolar bone loss in our P. gingivalis-induced mouse model of periodontitis. (4) Conclusions: S10 suppressed TLR/NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling and the AIM2 inflammasome in our P. gingivalis-induced murine periodontitis model, which suggests that it has potential use as a therapeutic treatment for periodontitis.

Son M, et al. J Periodontal Implant Sci. 2023 Jun;53:e20. https://doi.org/10.5051/jpis.2300100005

Healthy individuals often have different gut microbiota, and these differences can be influenced by their country of origin or their race. This study aimed to compare the gut microbiota compositions of healthy Germans and Koreans using 16S rRNA sequencing data extracted from public sources. Two cohorts, comprising 1592 samples (804 Germans and 788 Koreans), were analyzed for alpha and beta diversity, core microbiome, and abundances of specific taxa. The Prevotella enterotype was more prevalent in Koreans, and significant diversity differences were observed depending on cohorts and enterotypes. The core microbiomes across all enterotypes and cohorts included Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Parabacteroides, and Lachnospira. Several common core microbiomes were also found depending on enterotype. Koreans exhibited higher abundances of Faecalibacterium, Prevotella, and Bacteroides, while Germans had higher abundances of Blautia, Subdoligranulum, and Agathobacter. Distinctive microbiomes were identified by enterotype. The study enhances comprehension of gut microbiome variations linked to enterotype and geographical factors, and emphasizes the need for additional research to establish correlations between specific microbial properties and individual health status.