Work

Programmed cell death: immune regulatory mechanisms in periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis

Year: 2026

Type: review

Abstract: Periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis, as chronic inflammatory diseases that share epidemiological associations and immunopathological characteristics, have various forms of programmed cell death (PCD) that play a core role in their pathogenesis, which form an important link between the two. The comorbidity of periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis suggests that there might be a common immune regulatory mechanism, with PCD pathways playing a key role in regulating immune responses. Particularly, the Th17/Treg imbalance and apoptosis resistance in CD4 + CD28 − T cells emerge as shared T cell–centered mechanisms bridging periodontal infection to rheumatoid autoimmunity. Studying how PCD works in periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis can help uncover the potential links between the two diseases, which provides new targets for clinical treatment and improves patient prognosis. In this article, we’ll review relevant research and discuss how PCD is important for immune regulation in periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis, which provides a theoretical basis for future treatment strategies for both conditions, helping to control the progression of inflammation more effectively.

Source: Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2026.1815945

Authors: Hei Chan, XuFeng Chen, Jianwen Deng, Yuyan Mai

Institutions: First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Jinan University, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University

Language: English

Topic: Oral microbiology and periodontitis research

Subfield: Periodontics

Field: Dentistry

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801