Journal of Oral Science Research

Journal of Oral Science Research ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (5): 378-385.DOI: 10.13701/j.cnki.kqyxyj.2025.05.004

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Effect of Porphyromonas Gingivalis on Migration and Invasion of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma through NDK/ATP/P2X7 Pathway

WEI Wei1,2, TAN Xiaorong1,2, LI Muqiu1,2, GONG Zhongcheng1,2*, LI Chenxi1,2*   

  1. 1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Oncology & Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, School / Hospital of Stomatology Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China;
    2. Stomatological Research Institute of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi 830054, China
  • Received:2024-12-27 Online:2025-05-28 Published:2025-05-26

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Abstract: Objective: To explore the effect of nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDK) secreted by Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g) on proliferation, migration, and invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells by hydrolyzing extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and to clarify the relationship between NDK and ATP on the impact of oral cancer. Methods: Clinical data and OSCC tissue samples from 30 patients who visited the Department of Maxillofacial Oncology Surgery at the Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January 2022 to December 2023 were collected. Immunohistochemical detection was used to determine the expression of P.g and P2X7 in oral squamous cell carcinoma tissues. By culturing human oral squamous cell carcinoma SCC 9 and SCC 25 cells in vitro with P.g (W83 type) or P.g knocking out NDK (P.g-△NDK), a cell/bacteria co-culture model was established (using cell immunofluorescence to observe the co-culture model). CCK-8, wound healing, Transwell, and LDH release were used to detect the effects of P.g and P.g-△NDK on proliferation, migration, invasion, and toxicity of human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. The expression of P2X7 protein among the groups was verified using western blot. Results: The expressions of P.g and P2X7 were significantly higher in the tumor tissues than in the adjacent normal tissues (P<0.0001). The proliferation, migration, and invasion of SCC9 and SCC25 cells infected with P.g were enhanced (P<0.01), and their cytotoxicity was also enhanced (P<0.0001). After infection with P.g-△NDK, the proliferation, migration, and invasion of SCC9 and SCC25 cells were further enhanced (P<0.01), however, their cytotoxicity was weakened (P<0.0001). In all groups, the addition of ATP resulted in an enhancement of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion (P<0.05) and a weakening of cytotoxicity (P<0.0001). Among them, the ATP content in the supernatant of the P.g group was significantly reduced (P<0.05), and the expression of P2X7 was positively correlated with the ATP content. Conclusion: NDK secreted by P.g has the ability to deplete extracellular ATP of SCC 9 and SCC 25. After knocking out NDK, the expression of P2X7 is up-regulated, thereby enhancing its proliferation, migration, and invasion ability and reducing cytotoxicity.

Key words: Porphyromonas gingivalis, oral squamous cell carcinoma, nucleoside diphosphate kinase, adenosine triphosphate, purinergic ligand-gated ion channel 7