Study on the effect of protein lysine lactylation modification in macrophages on inhibiting periodontitis in rats

Abstract Background Protein lysine lactylation (Kla) has been proved to be closely related to inflammatory diseases, but its role in periodontitis (PD) is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to establish the global profiling of Kla in PD models in rats. Methods Clinical periodontal samples were collected, the inflammatory state of tissues was verified by H&E staining, and lactate content was detected by a lactic acid kit. Kla levels were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot. Subsequently, the rat model of PD was developed and its reliability verified by micro‐CT and H&E staining. Mass spectrometry analysis was conducted to explore the expression profile of proteins and Kla in periodontal tissues. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were performed, and a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. The lactylation in RAW264.7 cells was confirmed by IHC, immunofluorescence and Western blot. The relative expression levels of inflammatory factors IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α, macrophage polarization‐related factors CD86, iNOS, Arg1, and CD206 in RAW264.7 cells were detected by real time‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). Results We observed substantial inflammatory cell infiltration in the PD tissues, and the lactate content and lactylation levels were significantly increased. The expression profiles of protein and Kla were obtained by mass spectrometry based on the established rat model of PD. Kla was confirmed in vitro and in vivo. After inhibiting the “writer” of lactylation P300 in RAW264.7 cells, the lactylation levels decreased, and the expression of inflammatory factors IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α increased. Meanwhile, the levels of CD86 and iNOS increased, and Arg1 and CD206 decreased. Conclusions Kla may play an important role in PD, regulating the release of inflammatory factors and polarization of macrophages.