Diagnostic significance of LncRNA MIAT in periodontitis and the molecular mechanisms influencing periodontal ligament fibroblasts via the miR-204-5p/DKK1 axis

Objective

This study investigated the clinical importance of long noncoding RNA myocardial infarction-associated transcript (MIAT) in periodontitis and its impact on the functional regulation of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (hPDLFs).

Methods

Ninety-eight periodontitis patients and 74 healthy controls were enrolled. In vitro cellular models were created using Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (Pg-LPS) to stimulate hPDLFs. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to measure mRNA levels of MIAT and osteogenic factors. Inflammation factor concentration was assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cell viability and apoptosis were examined by cell counting kit −8 and flow cytometry assay. The targeting relationship was verified by the dual-luciferase reporter and RNA Immunoprecipitation assay.

Results

Highly expressed MIAT and Dicckopf-1 (DDK1), and lowly expressed miR-204–5p were found in the gingival crevicular fluid of periodontitis patients and Pg-LPS induced hPDLFs. MIAT has a sensitivity of 76.53 % and a specificity of 86.49 % for identifying patients with periodontitis among healthy individuals. MIAT acts as a sponge for miR-204–5p and upregulates DDK1 mRNA expression. Silencing of MIAT diminished the promotion of apoptosis and inflammation in hPDLFs by Pg-LPS and enhanced osteogenic differentiation. However, a miR-204–5p inhibitor significantly reversed the effect of silenced MIAT.

Conclusions

MIAT may act as a promising biomarker for periodontitis. It modulates apoptosis, inflammation, and osteogenic differentiation of PDLFs by focusing on the miR-204–5p/DKK1 axis, indicating its potential as a new therapeutic target for treating periodontitis.