Sleep deficiency exacerbates periodontal inflammation via trigeminal TRPV1 neurons

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 122; no. 24; p. e2424169122
• Main Authors: Li, Junhui, Cui, Zhicheng, Gong, Hongyu, Zhang, Yan, Yuan, Zhenlin, Zhang, Zihao, Ma, Zengyi, Zhou, Nan, Huang, Chuanxin, Zhao, Yao, Li, Xia, Zhang, Zhi, Sun, Yao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Academy of Sciences 17.06.2025
• Subjects: Ablation; Animal models; Animals; Capsaicin receptors; Disease Models, Animal; Endothelial cells; Female; Gum disease; Humans; Immune system; Inflammation; Inflammatory diseases; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neurokinin; Neurokinin NK1 receptors; Neurons; Neurons - metabolism; Neurons - pathology; Periodontitis; Periodontitis - etiology; Periodontitis - metabolism; Periodontitis - pathology; Periodontium; Quality of life; Receptors, Neurokinin-1 - genetics; Receptors, Neurokinin-1 - metabolism; Sleep; Sleep deprivation; Sleep Wake Disorders - complications; Sleep Wake Disorders - metabolism; Substance P; Substance P - metabolism; Trigeminal Nerve - metabolism; TRPV Cation Channels - genetics; TRPV Cation Channels - metabolism; Vasodilation; TRPV1 neurons; substance P; endothelial cell; periodontitis; sleep deficiency
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2424169122

Periodontitis, a prevalent chronic inflammatory disease, profoundly impacts both quality of life and overall health. Clinical studies have suggested a correlation between periodontitis and sleep deficiency, but the underlying mechanisms involved remain elusive. Here, we observed an elevated risk of periodontitis in individuals with sleep deficiency, as demonstrated in both clinical subjects and mouse models. Retrograde tracing from the periodontium revealed a neural connection from trigeminal TRPV1 neurons, which may mediate the aggravating effects of sleep deficiency on periodontitis. The ablation of TRPV1 neurons effectively mitigated the aggravating effects of sleep deficiency on periodontitis. Under periodontitis, sleep restriction increased the secretion of substance P from trigeminal neurons in the periodontium, enhancing vasodilation and vascular permeability, which in turn promoted the infiltration of proinflammatory immune cells. Blocking substance P signaling via a Neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist or knocking down Tacr1 in vascular endothelial cells alleviated these detrimental effects. Our findings unveil a critical neuron-vessel-immune axis that exacerbates periodontitis during sleep deficiency and suggest potential therapeutic strategies targeting this axis for managing periodontitis in individuals suffering from sleep deficiency.