TLR9 Mediates Periodontal Aging by Fostering Senescence and Inflammaging

• Published in: Journal of dental research Vol. 101; no. 13; pp. 1628 - 1636
• Main Authors: Albuquerque-Souza, E., Crump, K.E., Rattanaprukskul, K., Li, Y., Shelling, B., Xia-Juan, X., Jiang, M., Sahingur, S.E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.12.2022; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Aging; Alveolar bone; Bone loss; Bone marrow; Bone resorption; Comorbidity; Gene expression; Gum disease; Inflammation; INK4 protein; Interleukin 6; Macrophages; Osteoclastogenesis; Periodontitis; Research Reports; Senescence; TLR9 protein; Toll-like receptors; macrophages; cellular senescence; nucleic acids; S100 proteins; toll-like receptor 9; periodontitis
• ISSN: 0022-0345; 1544-0591; 1544-0591
• DOI: 10.1177/00220345221110108

TLR9 is a critical nucleic acid sensing receptor in mediating periodontitis and periodontitis-associated comorbidities. Emerging evidence implicates TLR9 as a key sensor during aging, although its participation in periodontal aging is unexplored. Here, we investigated whether TLR9-mediated host responses can promote key hallmarks of aging, inflammaging, and senescence, in the course of periodontitis using a multipronged approach comprising clinical and preclinical studies. In a case-control model, we found increased TLR9 gene expression in gingival tissues of older (≥55 y) subjects with periodontitis compared to older healthy subjects as well as those who are younger (<55 y old) with and without the disease. Mechanistically, this finding was supported by an in vivo model in which wild-type (WT) and TLR9–/– mice were followed for 8 to 10 wk (young) and 18 to 22 mo (aged). In this longitudinal model, aged WT mice developed severe alveolar bone resorption when compared to their younger counterpart, whereas aged TLR9–/– animals presented insignificant bone loss when compared to the younger groups. In parallel, a boosted inflammaging milieu exhibiting higher expression of inflammatory/osteoclast mediators (Il-6, Rankl, Cxcl8) and danger signals (S100A8, S100A9) was noted in gingival tissues of aged WT mice compared to the those of aged TLR9–/– mice. Consistently, WT aged mice displayed an increase in prosenescence balance as measured by p16 INK4a /p19 ARF ratio compared to the younger groups and aged TLR9–/– animals. Ex vivo experiments with bone marrow–derived macrophages primed by TLR9 ligand (ODN 1668) further corroborated in vivo and clinical data and showed enhanced inflammatory-senescence circuit followed by increased osteoclast differentiation. Together, these findings reveal first systematic evidence implicating TLR9 as one of the drivers of periodontitis during aging and functioning by boosting a deleterious inflammaging/senescence environment. This finding calls for further investigations to determine whether targeting TLR9 will improve periodontal health in an aging population.