Biology subjects

Elshourbagy, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Elshourbagy, S..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Longitudinal Salivary Immunophenotyping Reveals Distinct Cellular Signatures of Periodontal Disease Activity and Resolution

AimTo investigate whether salivary immune cell profiling can serve as a non-invasive approach to monitor periodontal disease activity and therapeutic response by characterizing innate and adaptive immune cell dynamics in periodontitis. Materials and MethodsThis longitudinal study included systemically healthy adults with periodontitis and healthy controls. Periodontal parameters (PPD, BOP, plaque/calculus, and radiographic bone loss) were recorded by calibrated examiners ({kappa}=0.85) following established criteria. Stimulated saliva and gingival biopsies were collected before and 4-6 weeks after non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT), and from healthy controls. Multiparametric flow cytometry was used to characterize myeloid and lymphoid cell populations and polarization markers. Bacterial transcripts and host inflammatory markers were assessed by qRT-PCR. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way ANOVA. ResultsPeriodontitis subjects exhibited significantly elevated salivary bacterial transcripts, which decreased but did not normalize following NSPT. Both myeloid and lymphoid immune cell populations increased in periodontitis compared with healthy controls and declined after therapy. This was accompanied by a pronounced pro-inflammatory shift with elevated IFN-{gamma}-producing macrophages, dendritic cells, Th1/Th17 cells, and B cells, including the novel identification of IFN-{gamma}-producing B cells in saliva and mirrors the gingival immune cell profiles. In contrast, anti-inflammatory populations (IL-10-producing myeloid cells, Tr1 cells, and regulatory B cells) were reduced in disease and partially restored following NSPT. ConclusionsSalivary immunophenotyping non-invasively monitors PD activity and therapeutic response by capturing dynamic immune changes that reflect gingival signatures and track post-therapy resolution. Clinical RelevanceO_ST_ABSScientific rationaleC_ST_ABSSalivary immune profiling offers a real-time, non-invasive tool for assessing periodontal disease status and treatment outcomes, with potential applications in precision diagnostics and personalized periodontal care. Principle findingsPeriodontitis was associated with increased salivary bacterial burden and a marked pro-inflammatory immune profile involving both innate and adaptive immune cells, including newly identified IFN-{gamma}-producing B cells. Non-surgical periodontal therapy partially restored anti-inflammatory immune responses and reduced inflammatory cell populations, supporting salivary immunophenotyping as a promising non-invasive biomarker approach for monitoring disease activity and treatment response. Practical implicationsSalivary immune cell profiling could serve as a simple, non-invasive tool to monitor periodontal disease activity and response to therapy in clinical practice. Identification of specific inflammatory cell subsets may also aid in developing personalized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for periodontitis.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2026

Salivary microRNA Profiling of Long COVID Subjects Reveals Host-Encoded Regulators of Inflammation and Viral Persistence

Periodontal disease and COVID-19 are linked by convergent immunoinflammatory pathways, yet the molecular basis of their interaction remains poorly defined. Here, we present a comprehensive salivary microRNA profile from individuals with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, sampled approximately 3-6 months after diagnosis and meeting criteria for long COVID, providing new insight into the post-viral oral microenvironment. Salivary miRNA sequencing revealed widespread repression in patients with PD, consistent with persistent immune dysregulation. Relative to COVID-19-negative/PD-negative controls, thirty-two miRNAs were differentially expressed in COVID-19-positive/PD-positive individuals, all significantly downregulated. A similar signature was observed in a post-vaccination cohort for the selected dysregulated miRNAs. Integrative pathway analyses identified these miRNAs as regulators of core inflammatory circuits, including Ras, MAPK, and NF{kappa}B signaling, converging on IL-1{beta}- and TNF-centered networks relevant to both PD and COVID-19. Mechanistically, restoration of three downregulated miRNAs, miR- miR-30e-3p 106-3p-3p, and miR-652-3p attenuated NF{kappa}B activation and cytokine release in TLR-stimulated human oral keratinocytes, while their functional suppression using inhibitors potentiates inflammation. These miRNAs were also predicted to target SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid transcripts, an interaction validated by dual-luciferase reporter assays. Their overexpression further reduced spike and nucleocapsid expression in Beta- and Omicron-infected epithelial cells, as measured by flow cytometry and RT-qPCR confirming host miRNAs as potent endogenous SARS-CoV-2 restriction factor. Together, these findings identify salivary host miRNAs as mechanistic regulators of oral inflammatory tone and viral persistence, establishing a molecular link between periodontal inflammation and post-COVID oral pathology.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2025

Oral Cavity Serves as Long-Term COVID-19 Reservoir with Increased Periodontal and Viral Disease Risk

BackgroundSARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to long-term health problems affecting multiple body systems termed long COVID. Currently, limited information exists about long-term oral health manifestations in COVID-19 patients with limited healthcare access. MethodsWe conducted a sequential, cross-sectional study (December 2020-March 2024) to assess how racial/ethnic differences (Black/Hispanic vs White/Asian) and health disparities affect oral and non-oral long COVID symptoms and their relationship with COVID-19 vaccination. We retrospectively reviewed patients oral health record from University of Illinois Chicago dental clinics before vaccination (December 2020; N=1150; Covid+/- N=575/group) and after vaccination (December 2021; N=592; Covid+/- N=292/group). Participants were recruited in two separate prospective groups of COVID-19 positive subjects (February-April 2021; pre-vaccination: N=158; January-March 2024; post-vaccination: N=171), we examined clinical indicators of oral (periodontal and salivary glands) and non-oral (neurologic) sequalae 3-6 months after initial exposure. We measured viral S protein by flow cytometry and quantified inflammatory markers, viral entry receptors, and oral viral load to correlate molecular, and cellular changes in COVID-19 positive subjects before and after vaccination. ResultsOur results identified racial disparity indicating oral associated post-acute sequelae (PASC) primarily manifested as periodontal (gum) disease (COVID-19 positive: 73.1{+/-}18.9% vs COVID-19 negative: 33.1{+/-}14.3%) and correlated with higher rates of dry mouth (57.5%), taste disturbance (47%), and smell loss (20%). Vaccination reduced oral PASC in COVID-19 positive subjects; however, periodontal disease indicators persisted compared to the COVID-19 negative group. Notably, 3-6 months post-infection, while SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) transcript was rarely detected in saliva ([~]6%), its protein was commonly detected ([~]70%) in the COVID-19 positive subjects indicating incomplete viral clearance. This correlates with significantly higher salivary expression of viral entry receptors (ACE2, and TRMPSS2), and inflammatory mediators (IL-6, IL-8 and MMP-8), in COVID-19 positive subjects. This finding was further supported by higher prevalence of other oral viruses including Epstein-Barr Virus (70.5%), Herpes Simplex Virus (8.1%), and Human Papillomavirus (17.5%) in COVID-19 positive subjects. InterpretationCOVID-19 history significantly correlates with severe oral health complications in predominantly Black communities, while vaccination reduced but did not eliminate these issues. The oral cavity serves as a long-term viral reservoir, and periodontal inflammation with increased oral viral presence in COVID-positive patients may increase susceptibility to oral and non-oral viral diseases and identify risk for long COVID.

microbiology↗