This study aimed to develop and validate a dual murine model integrating a high-fat diet (HFD) and a single streptozotocin (STZ) dose to induce diabetes mellitus (DM), alongside periodontitis (Perio) induced by ligature placement and oral inoculation with Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). The goal was to mimic human pathological conditions, creating a physiologically relevant environment to study the interplay between DM and Perio. A total of 128 six-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups: Control, DM, Perio, and DM-P. DM was induced by HFD and STZ injection, and Perio by ligature placement and P. gingivalis infection. Evaluations occurred at baseline and days 7, 14, and 21. Alveolar bone loss was assessed by micro-computed tomography, and inflammation was examined histologically. DM mice showed elevated glucose levels and insulin resistance. Perio and DM-P groups experienced significant bone loss compared with Control and DM groups. The morphometric analysis revealed abundant inflammatory cells and reduced collagen fibers in Perio and DM-P groups, especially at day 7. This dual murine model successfully replicated the key features of DM and Perio, maintaining overall health of the animals, and good tolerability by those subjects to the stress of both interventional procedures.

Bioactive peptides have garnered increasing interest in recent years due to their potential applications in the medical field, for example, as promising adjuvant therapeutic agents to modulate the host immune response and counteract microbial dysbiosis in chronic pathologies. Primarily derived from protein hydrolysates of food waste, these components exhibit beneficial properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antidiabetic effects. This narrative review focuses on bioactive peptides with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, highlighting their mechanisms of action, sources, and therapeutic potential in the context of chronic conditions, particularly periodontal disease, especially when comorbidities are present (i.e., type 2 diabetes mellitus). The mechanisms of action and sources, as well as preclinical and clinical studies evaluating bioactive peptides efficacy, are discussed. Further research is warranted to establish their clinical viability and integration into conventional therapeutic strategies.

To understand the susceptibility to single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter region of Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and Interleukin-13 (IL-13) in patients with and without periodontal disease. Thus, a systematic review of available studies on the subject was performed.

This study aimed to integrate current evidence on Interleukin-7 (IL-7) in the context of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), Dyslipidemia (Dysl), and Periodontitis (Perio). We performed a meta-analysis on IL-7 protein levels in individuals with these conditions, and we investigated gene and protein IL-7 levels in 217 participants from two independent cohorts, distributed into: (i) poorly-controlled T2DM, Dysl, and Perio (T2DMpoor_Dysl_P), (ii) well-controlled T2DM, Dysl, and Perio (T2DMwell_Dysl_P), (iii) Dysl and Perio (Dysl_P), (iv) Periodontitis (Perio), and (v) Healthy individuals (Control). Participants underwent physical, biochemical, and periodontal examinations. IL7 gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was quantified by RT-qPCR, and IL-7 protein levels were measured in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), plasma, and saliva. Meta-analysis of 454 participants showed no statistical differences in IL-7 protein levels in GCF or plasma/serum, with substantial heterogeneity among studies. Our two independent cohorts demonstrated that IL7 mRNA was higher in T2DMwell_Dysl_P than in T2DMpoor_Dysl_P subjects. In cohort 1, IL-7 protein levels were higher in GCF from healthy sites, similar among groups in diseased sites, and in plasma. Saliva in cohort 2 showed low IL-7 levels in all groups. Significant inverse correlations were found between IL-7 protein and anthropometric measures, and worsened periodontal parameters. These findings and the IL7 mRNA expression replicated across both cohorts lead to conclude that IL-7 is a potential candidate biomarker of immunometabolic and periodontal status, despite its variance in biological compartments. Further clinically similar studies enrolling larger populations are required to confirm these results and assess the biological and clinical relevance of IL-7.