TXN/TXNIP signatures point to plasma cells as a potential immune hub in periodontitis based on integrated transcriptomic analysis and preliminary experimental validation
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Periodontitis (PD) is a prevalent chronic inflammatory disease characterized by periodontal tissue destruction and alveolar bone loss. The contribution of cellular senescence- and circadian rhythm-related genes to PD progression remains incompletely defined, limiting biomarker discovery and precision therapeutic development. Methods: < 0.05) and machine-learning strategies were used to identify key genes and establish a diagnostic model. Functional enrichment, immune infiltration, cell-cell communication, pseudotime trajectory, and drug prediction analyses were subsequently performed to characterize the biological roles and cellular specificity of these genes. Animal experiments were performed to validate the expression and cellular localization of the key genes in periodontal tissues via histologic and immunofluorescence analyses (ethics approval: No. PZW2024031). Results: was positively associated with immature B cells. Single-cell analysis revealed plasma cells as the principal cell subset. In PD, plasma cells changed from an immunologically isolated population to an interactive regulatory hub, communicating broadly with other cell types through the MIF signaling axis and displaying prominent functional heterogeneity and pseudotime-dependent differences. Conclusion: may serve as candidate molecular tools for PD classification. The association of plasma cells with immune regulation highlights a potential mechanistic link between oxidative stress and immune remodeling in PD, warranting further investigation.
Source: Frontiers in Immunology
Institution: Nanjing University
Language: English
Subfield: Periodontics
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7214894053