Effects of Acetylcholine and Porphyromonas gingivalis on Oral Epithelial Cells

Periodontitis patients exhibit significant upregulation of the cholinergic signaling pathway in gingival epithelial cells, accompanied by elevated acetylcholine (ACh) levels in saliva. However, the role of ACh in the pathogenesis of periodontitis remains unclear. P. gingivalis, a keystone pathogen in periodontitis, triggers host inflammatory responses and compromises the epithelial barrier function. As the first line of defense against pathogens, the reparative capacity of the oral epithelium critically influences the progression of periodontitis. This study investigates whether ACh modulates P. gingivalis-induced inflammatory responses and epithelial repair in human oral keratinocytes (HOKs), aiming to elucidate the mechanistic role of cholinergic signaling in periodontitis.