Quantitative Evaluation of Oncogenic and Tumor Suppressor Gene Expression in Dps-7 Dental Pulp Stem Cells Exposed to Porphyromonas Gingivalis Bacteria Publisher



Bahadori P ; Bakhtiari R ; Aminzadeh M ; Panirani S N ; Abbasi F
Source: Jundishapur Journal of Microbiology Published:2026

Abstract

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common head and neck malignancy. It is characterized by rapid growth, a high risk of local invasion and metastasis, and a poor prognosis. Several studies have suggested a potential role for oral bacteria in the etiology of oral cancer. Notably, Porphyromonas gingivalis has been shown to regulate the expression of genes involved in carcinogenesis and tumor suppression. Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between the oral microbiome and oral cancer. To evaluate OSCC aggressiveness, we examined the expression of the tumor suppressor protein p53 and the proto-oncogene protein c-Myc. Methods: In this experimental laboratory study, human dental pulp stem cells (DPS-7) obtained from the Iranian Biological Resource Center were used as an oral stem cell model. The cells were cultured with the standard strain of P. gingivalis in Brucella agar medium (P.DPS-7 group), with Escherichia coli (E.DPS-7 group), or without either bacterium (DPS-7 group). The cells were exposed to bacteria and incubated in a CO2 incubator for 42 hours. After incubation, RNA was extracted from treated and untreated cells, and p53 and c-Myc gene expression was assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The P.DPS-7 group showed higher mean c-Myc expression and lower p53 gene expression levels than the DPS-7 and E.DPS-7 groups (P < 0.001), whereas no significant difference was observed between the DPS-7 and E.DPS-7 groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The association between OSCC aggressiveness and the oral microbiota, as documented in the present study, provides a basis for future research into its clinical significance, particularly for the prevention and treatment of OSCC. Copyright © 2026, Bahadori et al.