TY  - EJOU
AU  - Tsuda, Hiromasa 
AU  - Horikoshi, Daichi 
AU  - Mikami, Yoshikazu 

TI  - Short-Chain Fatty Acids from Oral Microbiota in Periodontal Pathology: Epigenetic and Oxidative Mechanisms of Cellular Injury
T2  - BIOCELL

PY  - 
VL  - 
IS  - 
SN  - 1667-5746

AB  - Plaque-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have emerged as potential contributors to periodontal inflammation and tissue destruction. Gram-negative anaerobic dental plaque bacteria produce millimolar concentrations of SCFAs. SCFAs directly affect gingival epithelial cells and infiltrating neutrophils, inducing membrane-disruptive cell death accompanied by the release of damage-associated molecular patterns, which can cause inflammation. In neutrophils, this process is also associated with the extracellular release of peptidyl-arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) and citrullinated proteins, suggesting a potential link between periodontal inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease. This review summarizes current knowledge on the mechanisms of SCFA-induced cell death in gingival epithelial cells and neutrophils. Based on these mechanisms, this review also discusses experimental and hypothetical strategies for suppressing SCFA-induced cell death. The main conclusion is that mechanical plaque control remains essential for reducing SCFA production, but adjunctive approaches targeting oxidative stress, epigenetic regulation, and PAD4-related pathways may further help limit SCFA-mediated inflammatory damage.
KW  - Short-chain fatty acids; gingival epithelial cells; neutrophils; reactive oxygen species; epigenetics; cell death; damage-associated molecular patterns; peptidyl arginine deiminase

DO  - 10.32604/biocell.2026.081392