Objective: To investigate the expression of LL37 in oral lichen planus (OLP) lesions. Methods: 25 OLP and 7 health controls were included in this study. IHC and RT-PCR methods were used to detect the LL37 expression on protein level and mRNA level. T-test was used for data analysis. Results: Positive staining of LL37 was found in all the samples in cytoplasm of epithelium cells using IHC method, and mostly in prickle and basal layers. But the reaction intensity in health control was weak, compared to the strong signal in OLP group(P<0.05). The expressions of LL37 mRNA in OLP were significantly higher than those in health controls(P<0.05). Conclusion: The expression of LL37 on normal oral mucosa suggests that it may play a role in maintaining the health of oral mucosa as a part of innate immunity. The up-regulation of LL37 under inflammation status might participate in the immunopathological development of OLP.

Objective:To evaluate the effects of crown lengthening surgery by apically repositioned flap for the treatment of the teeth with inadequate width of attached gingiva. Methods:17 teeth with inadequate width of attached gingiva were included. The gingiva flap was repositioned apically. The distance between gingival margin to the root surface was recorded, the width of attached gingiva and other indicators were compared before and 6 months after surgery. Results:Edge of the defects the 17 teeth was below gingiva margin before surgery, root surface was exposed to the coronal gingival margin 6 months after surgery in 16 of the 17 cases (94. 11%). Api-cally displacement distance of the gingival margin was (3. 88 ± 0. 49) mm. The width of attached gingiva before and 6 months after sur-gery was (2.35 ±0.61) mm and (2.65 ±0.49) mm respectively(P>0.05). Conclusion: Crown lengthening with apically reposi-tioned flap surgery can effectively expose the root surface and create conditions for restoration of dental defects for teeth with inadequate attached gingiva, and can prevent over removal of the keratinized gingiva.

Objective To explore the expressions of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2 ) and the downstream proteins in patients with human immunodeficiency virus /Mycobacterium tuberculosis (HIV /M TB) co-infection .Methods A total of 119 subjects were randomly enrolled .The subjects were divided into four groups :HIV group (n = 32) ,HIV /M TB group (n = 30) ,M TB group (n = 28) and healthy control group (n= 29) .Peripheral venous blood was collected and the HIV-1 viral load was determined by standard method .The expression levels of TLR2 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were determined by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) of TLR2 protein was detected by flow cytometry .The plasma interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits .The data were statistically analyzed by chi-square test ,students t test ,analysis of variance and rank sum test when appropriate .Results The viral load in HIV /M TB group ([5 .113 ± 1 .018] lg copy/mL ) was significantly higher than that in HIV group ([4 .416 ± 1 .020] lg copy/mL ; t = 3 .449 , P< 0 .01) .The TLR2 mRNA expressions in PBMC
among HIV ,HIV/M TB ,M TB and healthy control groups were 1 .397 ± 0 .601 ,1 .463 ± 0 .702 ,1 .429 ± 0 .630 ,and 0 .970 ± 0 .488 ,respectively ,which was significantly different among the 4 groups (F =4 .197 , P= 0 .007) .The MFI of TLR2 protein expressions on PBMC among HIV ,HIV /M TB ,M TB and healthy control groups were 28 .12 ± 4 .55 ,38 .11 ± 11 .77 ,31 .13 ± 12 .10 and 23 .33 ± 5 .14 ,respectively . The TLR2 protein expression levels were significantly different among 4 groups (F= 13 .976 ,P< 0 .01) . The plasma IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations were significantly different among 4 groups (Z = 19 .088 , 15 .475 ,both P< 0 .01) .The IL-6 concentrations in three patient groups were higher than that in healthy control group ,but the TNF-α concentrations were lower than healthy control group .Conclusions The co-infection of HIV-1 and M TB may enhance the activation of TLR2 signaling pathway ,which leads to the increased expression of IL-6 .

Objective To investigate the expression of TLR 4 and its downstream factor TNF-αin the patients with human immunodeficiency virus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( HIV/MTB) co-infection. Methods A total of 119 subjects including 32 patients with HIV infection (HIV group), 30 patients with HIV/MTB co-infection (HIV/MTB group), 28 patients with MTB infection (MTB group) and 29 healthy subjects ( control group ) were recruited continuously from the Fourth People′s Hospital of Nanning City , Guangxi.The expression of TLR4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from the patients was de-termined by flow cytometry .ELISA was performed to detect TNF-αin plasma samples .The HIV-1 viral load was determined by standard method .Results The mean fluorescence intensity ( MFI) for TLR4 expression in PBMCs from HIV, HIV/MTB, MTB and control groups were 21.62±4.67, 18.29±3.87, 16.79±4.45, and 22.85±5.80, respectively, showing significant differences among four groups (F=8.105, P<0.01). The TLR4 levels in MTB and HIV/MTB groups were significantly lower than those in control group ( both P<0.01) and HIV group (P<0.01, P=0.014).The plasma concentrations of TNF-αin HIV, HIV/MTB, MTB and control groups were 15.892 (10.494-21.646) pg/ml, 13.142 (8.014-22.038) pg/ml, 16.284 (11.916-24.005) pg/ml, and 26.657 (16.321-34.541) pg/ml, respectively, that were significantly dif-ferent from each other (F=4.350, P=0.006).The levels of TNF-αin plasma from patients with HIV and HIV/MTB infection were significantly lower than those of healthy subjects (P=0.009 and P=0.001).The viral load in patients from HIV/MTB group (5.113 ±1.018 copies/ml) was significantly higher than that from HIV group (4.416±1.020 copies/ml) (t=3.449, P=0.001).Conclusion MTB infection might promote HIV replication by inhibiting the expression of TLR 4.HIV infection might increase host′s suscepti-bility to MTB infection by reducing the production of TNF-α.Suppressed expression of TLR and TNF-αpro-duction could contribute to the occurrence of HIV /MTB co-infection .

Objective To investigate the features of oral lesions in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(HIV/AIDS).Methods A total of 127 HIV-seropositive patients were interviewed for health information and examined for their HIV-related oral lesions according to the EC Clearing House Criteria on Oral Problems related to HIV-Infection (1992).The examinations were conducted by dental specialist and HIV specialist.The CD4 T cell count in peripheral blood of the patients was tested by flow cytometry.The patients were divided into HIV-infected group(42) and AIDS group(85) according to CDC Classification System for HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents(revised in 1993).Chi-square test was used to test the relationship between systemic disease and oral lesions,and the difference of the prevalence of oral lesions between the two groups.Results Among the 127 patients,oral candidiasis(51/127),oral hairy leukoplakia(24/127) were common oral manifestation.There was no relationship between the oral manifestation and systemic disease(P=0.397).The occurrence of oral lesions and oral candidiasis was significantly different between the two groups(x2=7.684,P=0.006; x2=14.410,P＜0.001).The CD4 count was related to the prevalence of oral lesions (P==0.006) and oral candidasis (P=0.003).Conclusions Most oral lesions appeared before the appearance of systemic disease.Oral candidiasis and oral hairy leukoplakia were the most common lesions.Oral lesions had no relationship with systemic disease but could be still an indicator for disease progress.

Oral cavity is one of the main organs involved in chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD). Oral cGVHD seriously affects the patient's quality of life. Topical use of glucocorticoid and other agents is the primary topical treatment of oral cGVHD, oral photochemical therapy and various new methods have also been applied in patients recently. These important adjuvant therapies are based on the systemic use of drugs such as immunosuppressive agents, and sometimes, may be the only effective treatment for oral cGVHD. This review will focus on the application of topical agent treatment and oral photochemotherapy in oral cGVHD patients.

N 6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant and widely distributed internal RNA modification in eukaryotic cells, and it is involved in the regulation of gene expression and biological processes in many cells. In recent years, studies on the role of m6A modification in oral cavity have emerged gradually. Existing researches show that m6A-related proteins are involved in the regulation of oral squamous cell carcinoma and its resistance to therapy. Methyltransferase-like 3 regulates apoptosis and autophagy of chondrocytes in inflammation, the angiogenesis and osteogenesis during distraction osteogenesis of endothelial progenitor cells, inflammatory response of dental pulp cells, the differentiation and osteogenesis of dental pulp stem cells, the development of tooth roots and the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and so on. Moreover, m6A modification may also be related to the occurrence and development of periodontitis, oral ulcers and oral submucosal fibrosis. These studies have provided new ideas for the pathogenesis of various oral diseases and the diagnosis and treatment of oral bone tissue repair and regeneration. This paper reviews the recent research progress on the role of m6A modification in the field of stomatology and summarize the current research status of m6A in the field of stomatology, in order to provide reference for the further research of m6A function and mechanism in the field of stomatology.

Objective To employ next-generation sequencing(NGS)to analyze differentially expressed mRNAs in the gingival tissue of hypertensive rats with or without periodontitis to provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of hypertension with periodontitis.Methods After obtaining approval from the Animal Experiment Ethics Committee,a hypertensive rat model was established by administering high-salt feed containing 8％(w/w)NaCl,and a periodontitis rat model was established by ligating the first molar of the mandibular region using 3-0 sterile silk thread.Rat models of the normal control(N),hypertension(H),and hypertension with periodontitis(PH)groups were estab-lished.The blood pressure,heart rate,alveolar bone resorption,and number of osteoclasts in the alveolar bone were measured,before harvesting the gingival tissues from the three groups for NGS to analyze the expression of significantly different genes.Gene ontology(GO)enrichment analysis was performed for all significantly differentially expressed genes between the H and PH groups.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis was per-formed.Key genes were screened by protein-protein interaction(PPI)networks,and the key gene expression in each group was verified using immunohistochemistry(IHC).The expression of key genes in the systemic circulation of each group was analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results At the end of the experiment(11th week),the blood pressure was higher in both the H and PH groups than that in the N group(P<0.001),but there was no statistically significant difference in blood pressure between the H and PH groups.There was no statistical difference in heart rate among the 3 groups.Micro-CT showed that the distance from the cemento-enamel junction to the alveolar bone crest(CEJ-ABC)of the mandibular first molar in the PH group was significantly higher than that in the N and H groups(P<0.016 7).The number of osteoclasts in the alveolar bone of the PH group was significantly higher than that of the N and H groups(P<0.0167).No common differentially expressed genes were found among the 3 groups.There were 235 significantly differentially expressed genes in the gingival tissue between the H and PH groups,and 137 upreg-ulated genes(e.g.,P-selectin,keratin 16,and S100 calcium binding protein A)and 98 downregulated genes(e.g.,FK506 binding protein 5,mediator complex subunit 22,zinc finger and BTB domain containing 16)in the PH group compared to the H group.GO analysis showed that the major enriched biological processes(BP)were leukocyte migra-tion,the major cellular component(CC)was complex of collagen trimers,and the significant molecular function(MF)was extracellular matrix structural constituent in the H and PH groups.KEGG pathway analysis showed that signaling pathways such as cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction,IL-17 signaling pathway,and TNF-α signaling pathway were significantly enriched in the H and PH groups.PPI analysis identified four key genes affecting periodontitis in hyperten-sive conditions,including interleukin-1β(IL-1β),matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9),collagen type Ⅰ alpha1(COL1α 1),and chemokine ligand 1(CXCL1).Compared to the N and H groups,the expressions of IL-1β and TNF-α were all upregulated in the gingival tissue and systemic serum in the PH group(P<0.016 7).Conclusion The differentially expressed mRNAs in hypertension with or without periodontitis included IL-1β and MMP-9,while the differentially ex-pressed signaling pathways were IL-17 and TNF-α.These results provide a theoretical reference for further investigation of the molecular regulatory mechanism of hypertension with periodontitis in the future.