Two professors at the Augusta University Dental College of Georgia (DCG) have received a nearly $2 million grant to study the link between gum disease and metabolic dysfunction.
With the grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Dr. Ana Carolina Morandini, PhD, and Dr. Erivan Ramos Jr., PhD, will combine their specialties in soft and hard tissues to explore this causal relationship.
Morandini will explore how certain molecules in gum tissue cells can promote or reduce inflammation, while Ramos will focus on how metabolic dysfunction impacts bone cells.
Although it's known that many systemic diseases begin in the mouth, the mechanisms may be more complex than previously believed. A key focus will be on the gum tissue enzyme CD73 and its role in bone loss and metabolic health.
To study this association further, the researchers will use cell and mouse models. The mice will be fed high-fat diets, and gum disease will be induced through plaque buildup. Different groups of lean and obese mice, with and without disease induction, will serve as controls. Then, they will test potential treatments to prevent or reduce disease progression.
The duo hopes the research will lead to earlier detection and better treatments for periodontal and related metabolic diseases.
