US researchers discovered in a previous clinical study that the chronic gum inflammation can promote an ageing-related condition called ‘senescence’, even in younger tissues.
Senescent cells, which have permanently ceased to divide in response to stress, secrete inflammatory molecules that increase tissue damage, impair healing, and accelerate disease severity.
Now, a new translational study by the same research team at Penn Dental Medicine reveals that targeting senescent cell burden could be an effective strategy for managing periodontal disease and promoting oral health.
In a paper published in the Journal of Dental Research, the researchers showed that an anti-senescence therapy or ‘senotherapy’, consisting of an enzyme inhibitor called dasatinib and a natural flavonoid plant compound called quercetin, reduced markers of senescence and associated periodontal inflammation and bone loss in lab-dish and animal models.
Senotherapies, which target senescent cells by eliminating them or suppressing their harmful effects, are gaining attention for a host of potential clinical applications, and now periodontal diseases as well.
In their new study, the team used the dasatinib-quercetin (DQ) combination, a senotherapy that has shown an ability to reduce senescent cell numbers and senescence markers in other clinical contexts.
In lab-dish experiments, the team exposed gum cells called keratinocytes to periodontitis-associated bacteria, which induced a senescence-like molecular signature. Treatment with DQ significantly weakened this signature—as did quercetin alone comparably.
The results extended to a live animal model as well. In aging mice, which exhibit features of senescence as they age, DQ treatment significantly decreased senescence markers and senescence-associated inflammatory mediators in gum tissues, restoring them to levels observed in young, non-senescent gums. Importantly, the DQ supplements also prevented much of the loss of alveolar bone, suggesting that senotherapy could help preserve the structural integrity of the periodontium.
“These results are consistent with our previous studies and a growing body of research that shows the powerful role of natural compounds, like quercetin, in promoting oral and systemic health,” Dr Esra Sahingur said.
