Influence of Masticatory Functional Loss on the Remodeling of Alveolar Bone in Rats

There is plenty of literature on masticatory function and its impact on maxillofacial development. However, the influence of masticatory hypofunction on bone turnover in the alveolar bone has hardly been studied. This study aimed to clarify the influence of tooth loss and soft diet on the alveolar bone turnover during the growth period. Three-week-old Wistar rats were randomly divided into the following three groups: Hard diet group (rats raised on solid standard diet), Powder diet group (rats raised on powdered standard feed diet), and Extraction group (rats raised on powdered standard diet with maxillary molars extraction). BV, BMC, and BMD in the cancellous bone of M1 were measured using micro-CT analysis. To analyze the histological bone turnover, we prepared non-decalcified thin sections of alveolar cancellous bone when rats were 20 weeks old. On three-dimensional constructed images, the experimental groups (the Powder diet and Extraction groups) showed expansion of the medullary cavity of the interradicular septum of the first molar compared to controls (the Hard diet group). BV, BMC, and BMD were significantly lower in the experimental groups, with the difference from controls being greater in the Extraction group. On histomorphometric analysis, the bone mass parameters, bone formation parameters, and bone mineralization parameters were significantly lower in the experimental groups compared to controls. The bone resorption parameters were significantly higher in the experimental groups. From this study, we found that soft diet and tooth loss might worsen the bone microstructure, reduce osteogenesis, and promote bone resorption in alveolar bone.

Streptococcal SspB Peptide Analog Inhibits Saliva-Promoted Adhesion and Biofilm Formation of Streptococcus mutans

Background: Streptococcus gordonii, a pioneer colonizer of dental plaque biofilm, expresses surface protein adhesin SspB by which the bacteria bind to salivary agglutinin (gp340). SspB has extensive homology with PAc, a surface adhesin of Streptococcus mutans. Hence, SspB of S. gordonii competes with PAc of S. mutans for the same niche environment in the salivary pellicles. The aim of this study was to develop anti-adherence agents that enabled us to control cariogenic biofilms by using the streptococcal SspB peptide analog SspB (A4K-A11K). Methods: First, we performed ELISA to determine the S. mutans-saliva interaction and saliva-binding activities of SspB (A4K- A11K). The inhibitory effects of SspB (A4K-A11K) were then evaluated by examining S. mutans adhesion to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite disks (s-HA). To determine peptide interference with biofilm formation, S. mutans biofilms were quantified by counting CFUs on MS agar plates and by measuring the absorbance at 492 nm of safranin-stained biofilms on s-HA. Results: Saliva, particularly salivary gp340 peptide, promoted adherence of S. mutans to polystyrene surfaces. SspB (A4K-A11K) significantly bound to saliva and inhibited the adhesion of S. mutans to s-HA without bactericidal activity. Furthermore, biofilms of S. mutans on s-HA were successfully reduced by pretreatment with SspB (A4K-A11K). Conclusion: SspB (A4K-A11K) peptide competitively blocked S. mutans adhesion to experimental pellicles through SspB-gp340 interaction, thereby inhibiting biofilm formation. These findings will contribute to the control cariogenic biofilms.

Loss of Masticatory Function Affects Morphology of the Tooth Root in Rats

Masticatory hypofunction and soft food affect the tooth rows, occlusion, and jawbone. This study aimed to clarify the influence of tooth loss and a soft diet on morphology of the tooth root during the growth period. We divided 3-week-old Wistar rats into the following three groups: Hard diet group (rats raised on solid standard diet), Powder diet group (rats raised on powdered standard feed diet), and Extraction group (rats raised on powdered standard diet with maxillary molars extraction). Length, width, cross-sectional area, and volume of the root of the mandibular M1 and M2 were measured using micro-CT analysis. Non-decalcified thin-slice specimens of sagittal sections of the M1 were obtained at the age of 20 weeks, and the roots were observed. The root length of all roots in the Extraction group was significantly longer than that in the other groups. The root width and cross-sectional area at the apical side 1/4 of all roots in the Extraction group were significantly smaller than those in the other groups. The root volume of the M1 mesial root in the Extraction group was significantly smaller than that in the other groups. This study clarified that when masticatory stimulus in the immature teeth is reduced by the extraction of opposing teeth and a powder diet, the root length increases due to the promotion of cellular cementum addition at the apex, and the root width and cross-sectional area decrease due to the suppression of cellular cementum addition at the apical side 1/4 of the roots.

SspB Peptide Assay Reveals Saliva-Mediated <i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i>Attachment

Background: Porphyromonas gingivalis is a major periodontal pathogen that binds efficiently to Streptococcus gordonii, which in turn binds to salivary agglutinin (gp340). The SspB of S. gordonii appears to mediate this association. We previously reported that the strepto-coccal SspB peptide analog, designated SspB (390-T400K-402), showed high binding activity with saliva. To understand the three-way interaction among S. gordonii, P. gingivalis and salivary gp340 as a unit, we established a peptide binding assay using SspB (390-T400K-402). Methods: The binding activity of the SspB (390-T400K-402) to P. gingivalis was detected by ELISA. Ninety-six well plates were coated with whole bacterial cell (P. gingivalis strains ATCC 33277, and W83;S. gordonii DL1) in Na2CO3 coating buffer. After blocking, bacterial cells were incubated with saliva or salivary agglutinin peptide (SRCRP2). Biotinylated SspB (390-T400K-402) was applied and incubated with 1:1000 streptoavidin-conjugated alkaline phosphatase. After development, A405 was recorded. Results: P. gingivalis 33277 showed the highest binding activity of the tested bacteria, whereas P. gingivalis W83, which was deficient in Mfa1 fimbriae, exhibited poor binding activity, as did S. gordonii. The binding of SspB (390-T400K-402) peptide in saliva- or SRCRP2-treated P. gingivalis was significantly higher than that in non-treated cells. Conclusion: The SspB (390-T400K-402) peptide binding assay revealed that initial attachment of P. gingivalis to the substrata of S. gordonii may require gp340-mediated SspB-Mfa1 interactions. The assay is available to assess the relationships among SspB, Mfa1 and salivary gp340 as a unit.