The role of Notch signaling on the modulation of immune response on LPS-induced periodontal disease in mice

• Grant number: 13/19160-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): February 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): January 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Periodontology
• Principal Investigator: Sabrina Garcia de Aquino
• Grantee: Camila Luiz Jabr
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOAr). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Periodontal diseases represent an interesting model to the study of chronic inflammatory conditions, particularly the host-microbial interactions. Tissue destruction associated with progression of periodontal diseases is mostly due to cytokines and other biological mediators produced by the host itself, with fundamental participation of the innate and adaptive immune responses. The expression of these mediators is a strictly-controlled process that may be initiated by of multiple external stimuli acting on various receptors. However, these external signals converge towards a relatively limited number of intracellular signaling pathways. A better comprehension of the role played by different signaling pathways may provide novel and alternative strategies for the modulation of the host response by altering the whole profile of cytokines and mediators produced, as opposed to the strategy of inhibiting or blocking a specific candidate-cytokine, which is limited because of the frequently redundant and compensatory role of inflammatory mediators. The role of Notch signaling on the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases is largely unknown. In spite of being initially related with embryonic development and fundamental cellular processes such as control of proliferation and cell death, these pathways have important roles on the regulation of innate and adaptive immunity and bone tissue homeostasis. Our main hypothesis is that the modulation of Notch signaling has an important effect on the destruction of non-mineralized and mineralized tissues during periodontal disease progression. I herein reinforce that the purposed project will add important data to complement the information generated in the main post doctoral project which is already in progress with a FAPESP financial support (Process 2011/22319-3).Thus, this project presents the specific aim to further determine the effect of modulating and Notch signaling on the homeostasis of bone tissue during experimental periodontal disease in mice.