Epigenetic Regulations in the Pathogenesis of Periodontitis

Background: Periodontitis is a multifactorial infectious disease that affects a large population worldwide. Oral microorganisms and susceptible host have been proposed to be the prerequisite for the development of periodontitis. Recently, the involvement of epigenetic modifications in the development of periodontitis has been suggested. Objectives: This review aims to detail recent discoveries involving the epigenetic alterations in periodontitis, and discuss the possible epigenetic mechanisms contributing to the expression of periodontitis-related genes. Conclusions: The expression of inflammatory cytokines during periodontitis is regulated at epigenetic level by mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modification and miRNAs. In addition, periodontal pathogens and their virulence factors could induce epigenetic alterations of periodontal tissues, and thus affect the progression and prognosis of periodontitis. The involvement of epigenetic modifications during periodontitis not only advances our knowledge on the pathogenesis of periodontitis, but may also lead to the identification of potential therapeutic targets of this oral disease.