# Arginine metabolism in periodontal health and diseases

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · 2021 · $152,500

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Periodontitis is one of the most common infectious diseases affecting humans worldwide, and this oral disease
has been linked to systemic diseases. Current knowledge points to a dysbiosis in periodontitis or loss of the
balance between the microbial consortia and the host immune and inflammatory responses, which results in
destruction of periodontal tissues. An expanding area of research focus on therapeutic interventions that
modulate microbial ecology to restore homeostasis of human biofilms, and thus health. Robust evidence
supports a significant role of arginine metabolism in the ecological balance of supragingival biofilms and
inhibition of dental caries. Arginine metabolism via the arginine deiminase pathway (ADS) produces ammonia,
which counteracts the effects of biofilm acidification from bacterial glycolysis. Our clinical studies revealed a
positive correlation between caries activity and low arginolytic capacity of the supragingival biofilms.
Interestingly, recent in vivo and vitro studies revealed a potential multifaceted role of arginine in the ecology of
subgingival biofilms. It has also been shown that arginine-sensing pathways are activated by microbial
interactions common to subgingival communities, and that arginine may affect the virulence of certain
periodontal pathogens. However, the arginolytic potential of oral samples from individuals with different
periodontal health-status remains unexplored. The main goal of this application is to begin to explore the
relationship between ADS activity in subgingival biofilms and periodontal health-status of adults over time. This
proposal seeks to address the paucity of knowledge on whether arginine metabolism via ADS by the
subgingival microbiome is positively or negatively associated with periodontal health in a comprehensive and
clinically relevant fashion. To accomplish this goal, Aim 1 will evaluate the relationships between: a) arginine
metabolism via ADS by subgingival plaque, b) plaque levels of arginine and certain arginine metabolites (i.e.
citrulline, ornithine, agmatine and putrescine), and c) periodontal health-status of adults over a period of 12
months. Aim 2 will correlate plaque ADS activity and levels of arginine and arginine metabolites with local
levels of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) immuno-inflammatory biomarkers. Collectively, these studies will
advance our understanding of how arginine metabolism in subgingival biofilms influences the disease process
of periodontitis and how the arginolytic potential of subgingival biofilms correlates with the dynamic processes
of immune responses in periodontal health and disease over time. This research will have a direct translational
application by providing the scientific basis for the rational design of new arginine-based risk assessment tools
and approaches that can be widely distributed to at-risk populations for disease prevention and control.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10263354
- **Project number:** 5R21DE029304-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Marcelle M. Nascimento
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $152,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-14 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10263354

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10263354, Arginine metabolism in periodontal health and diseases (5R21DE029304-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10263354. Licensed CC0.

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