脱氧镖毒素是一种重要的膳食类固醇糖皂甙，具有多种药理学活性。本研究旨在评估脱氧镖毒素对牙周炎的影响并阐明其作用机制。在体外和体内研究中，分别使用脂多糖（LPS）刺激的人牙周韧带干细胞（hPDLCs）和Porphyromonas gingivalis（P.g）加结扎诱导的动物模型。同时测量了LPS刺激的hPDLSCs和牙周炎大鼠的牙龈组织中的炎症反应、核因子κ-B（NF-κB）信号传导和成骨相关标志物。结果显示，与未经处理组相比，脱氧镖毒素处理明显抑制了LPS刺激的hPDLSCs中肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）、白细胞介素（IL）-1β和白细胞介素（IL）-6的产生，同时降低了NF-κB通路的活性。此外，脱氧镖毒素处理还促进了成骨细胞相关基因的表达和成骨分化能力的增强。进一步的研究表明，NF-κB通路的激活很大程度上削弱了脱氧镖毒素的保护效应。与体外研究一致，在体内研究中发现，给牙周炎大鼠注射脱氧镖毒素可以明显降低牙龈组织中TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6水平以及炎症转录因子NF-κB的表达。同时，脱氧镖毒素也可以促进成骨细胞相关基因的表达。因此，脱氧镖毒素通过调节NF-κB信号传导来抑制炎症反应和促进成骨作用，从而减轻牙周炎的发病。这一研究结果表明，脱氧镖毒素可能成为未来治疗牙周炎的治疗策略之一。© 2023 The Authors. Oral Diseases published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Diosgenin, an essential dietary steroidal sapogenin, possess multiple pharmacological activities. This study aimed to assess the effects of diosgenin on periodontitis and elucidate the mechanisms. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLCs) and a Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g) plus ligation-induced animal model were used for in vitro and in vivo studies, respectively. Inflammatory responses, nuclear factor κ-B (NF-κB) signaling and osteogenesis-related markers were measured both in LPS-stimulated hPDLSCs and in gingival tissue of periodontitis rats. Treatment with diosgenin significantly inhibited the production of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and interleukin (IL)-6 and the activation of NF-κB pathway in LPS-stimulated hPDLSCs. Further, treatment with diosgenin enhanced the expression of osteoblast-related genes and increased the osteogenic differentiation capacity. Further, activation NF-κB pathway largely abolished the protective effects of diosgenin. Consistent with the in vitro studies, in vivo studies showed that administering diosgenin to periodontitis rats significantly lowered the levels of the TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and the inflammatory transcription factor NF-κB in gingival tissue. In addition, osteoblast-related genes were promoted. Diosgenin attenuates periodontitis by adjusting NF-κB signaling to inhibit inflammatory effects and promoting osteogenesis, suggesting diosgenin might be developed as a therapeutic strategy for treating periodontitis in the future.© 2023 The Authors. Oral Diseases published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.