BBS7–SHH Signaling Activity Regulates Primary Cilia for Periodontal Homeostasis
December 2021
in “
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
”
TLDR BBS7 is essential for healthy gums by supporting cell function and blood flow.
The study investigated the role of Bardet-Biedl syndrome 7 (BBS7) in maintaining periodontal ligament (PDL) homeostasis under occlusal hypofunction conditions. RNA sequencing of 34 human teeth revealed that BBS7 expression was downregulated in hypofunctional PDL, leading to atrophic changes such as reduced PDL cell numbers, altered collagen fiber alignment, and decreased blood vessel diameter. The study found that Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling activity was closely linked to BBS7 expression, and BBS7 knockdown suppressed cell migration and angiogenesis in vitro. These findings suggested that BBS7 was crucial for Shh signaling and PDL homeostasis.
