Program/Event
Undergraduate Research Showcase Spring 2025
Abstract
Background: Periodontitis is a chronic, inflammatory disease that affects over 50% of the global population and is a leading cause of tooth loss. It is associated with the accumulation of oral pathogens that thrive in inflamed environments and contribute to the destruction of gum tissue and underlying bone. Neutrophils, the most abundant immune cells in the oral cavity, serve as the first line of defense against these pathogens. However, some bacteria can alter neutrophil responses to promote their survival, leading to sustained inflammation and tissue damage. This study focuses on Peptoanaerobacter stomatis, a Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium that is highly prevalent in the oral biofilm of patients with periodontitis. Our lab has previously shown that P. stomatis-challenged human neutrophils exhibit a hyperinflammatory phenotype, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Preliminary RNA sequencing analysis of neutrophils exposed to P. stomatis revealed autophagy among the top 20 biological processes. Autophagy is a cellular process that maintains homeostasis, but it can also contribute to inflammation when dysregulated. This project aims to investigate whether P. stomatis exposure induces autophagy in human neutrophils by assessing the expression of LC3, a key marker of autophagic activity.
Methods: To measure changes in LC3 protein expression, Western blot analysis was employed. Neutrophils were exposed to P. stomatis at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 10 for 3 hours. After protein extraction, the bicinchoninic acid (BCA) protein estimation method was used to measure the protein concentration. β-Actin was used as a loading control to ensure equal protein loading across all experimental conditions.
Results: The results show that P. stomatis significantly increases the LC3 expression in neutrophils when compared to unstimulated cells.
Conclusion: These preliminary results would suggest that this bacterium may induce autophagy in human neutrophils.
Recommended Citation
Philipose, Mya; Srivastava, Shikha; and Uriarte, Silvia
(2025)
"Activation of Autophagy in Human Neutrophils in Response to Emerging Oral Pathogen Peptoanaerobacter stomatis,"
The Cardinal Edge: Vol. 3:
Iss.
2, Article 21.
Available at:
https://ir.library.louisville.edu/tce/vol3/iss2/21