# Osteoimmunology of Retarded Bone Regeneration in Periodontitis

> **NIH NIH R01** · NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $75,548

## Abstract

This application for Diversity Administrative Supplement (PA-21-071) is written to request for the one-year
support for Hispanic Post Bachelorette Trainee, Ms. Elizabeth Leon, under the parent RO1 grant (NIDCR,
DE029709), titled, “Osteoimmunology of regarded bone regeneration in periodontitis.” She will perform the basic
research to elucidate the mechanism underlying the pathogenic bone resorption which is promoted by the novel
virulent lipid produced by P, gingivalis in periodontitis lesion. Parallelly, she will be working toward acceptance
in the program of dentistry.
Candidate’s research project background: In the past year, the candidate performed the basic biomedical
research in Kawai lab supported by Diversity Administrative Supplement (PA-21-071) which resulted in two co-
authored publications and receiving of Bloc travel award for her presentation in AADOCR (Atlanta, GA, March,
2022). She discovered that P. gingivalis’ unique lipid, phosphoglycerol dihydroceramide (PGDHC), as it was
delivered in P. gingivalis’ outer membrane vesicle (OMV), can promote the osteoclastogenesis from mouse
osteoclast precursors (RAW264.7) in conjunction with upregulation of OC-STAMP and DC-STAMP expressions
on the RANKL-primed RAW264.7 cells. The localization of PGDHC in the bacterial cell, OMVs as well as host
osteoclasts is largely unknown. It is also not known whether PGDHC can elicit pathogenic pro-OC-genesis effect
on human osteoclasts.
Hypothesis: We hypothesized that PGDHC present in OMV of P. gingivalis can deliver the PGDHC to osteoclast
precursors derived from mice as well as human which, in turn, promotes osteoclastogenesis in conjunction with
the upregulation of OC-STAMP and DC-STAMP expressions.
Project Objectives for Candidate:
 Objective 1: To determine the localization of PGDHC in Pg cell and OMV as well as host cells (mouse
RAW264.7 cells and human blood monocytes) using a Raman Spectroscope.
Objective 2: To study the effect of P. gingivalis’ PGDHC on the human osteoclastogenesis in the physiological
 context, the humanized mice will be induced of periodontitis by attachment of ligature around the maxillary
 molar, followed by the oral inoculation with SPT-KO-Pg (PGDHC deficient), gingipain-KO-Pg and WT-Pg. The
 pathologic manifestation of periodontitis will be evaluated.
After completing these two objectives, the candidate will have mastered the methods of Raman spectroscopy and
humanized mouse model of periodontitis, as well as basic statistical analysis, interpretation of data and publishing
a research paper which strengthen her credential to be a candidate for dental degree program and future
clinician/scientist in the field of dental biomedical research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10667111
- **Project number:** 3R01DE029709-03S2
- **Recipient organization:** NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** TOSHIHISA KAWAI
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $75,548
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-08-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10667111

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10667111, Osteoimmunology of Retarded Bone Regeneration in Periodontitis (3R01DE029709-03S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10667111. Licensed CC0.

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