AUTHOR=Jin Jieqi , Guang Mengkai , Li Simin , Liu Yong , Zhang Liwei , Zhang Bo , Cheng Menglin , Schmalz Gerhard , Huang Xiaofeng TITLE=Immune-related signature of periodontitis and Alzheimer’s disease linkage JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics VOLUME=14 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2023.1230245 DOI=10.3389/fgene.2023.1230245 ISSN=1664-8021 ABSTRACT=

Background: Periodontits (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are both associated with ageing and clinical studies increasingly evidence their association. However, specific mechanisms underlying this association remain undeciphered, and immune-related processes are purported to play a signifcant role. The accrual of publicly available transcriptomic datasets permits secondary analysis and the application of data-mining and bioinformatic tools for biological discovery.

Aim: The present study aimed to leverage publicly available transcriptomic datasets and databases, and apply a series of bioinformatic analysis to identify a robust signature of immune-related signature of PD and AD linkage.

Methods: We downloaded gene-expresssion data pertaining PD and AD and identified crosstalk genes. We constructed a protein-protein network analysis, applied immune cell enrichment analysis, and predicted crosstalk immune-related genes and infiltrating immune cells. Next, we applied consisent cluster analysis and performed immune cell bias analysis, followed by LASSO regression to select biomarker immune-related genes.

Results: The results showed a 3 gene set comprising of DUSP14, F13A1 and SELE as a robust immune-related signature. Macrophages M2 and NKT, B-cells, CD4+ memory T-cells and CD8+ naive T-cells emerged as key immune cells linking PD with AD.

Conclusion: Candidate immune-related biomarker genes and immune cells central to the assocation of PD with AD were identified, and merit investigation in experimental and clinical research.