Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39799458›Full record

ArticleJournal of periodontal research2026

5-FU Weakens Defensive Functions of the Junctional Epithelium.

Fabiana Aellos, Amarissa Ramos, Alba Civit-Balta, Joseph A Grauer, Pedro L Cuevas, Samyak Rao, Xue Yuan, Bo Liu, Jill A Helms

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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of periodontal research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Fabiana AellosDepartment of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8854-4253
Amarissa RamosDepartment of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
Alba Civit-BaltaDepartment of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
Joseph A GrauerDepartment of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
Pedro L CuevasDepartment of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
Samyak RaoDepartment of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
Xue YuanDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Bo LiuDepartment of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
Jill A HelmsDepartment of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0463-396X

Funding

Molecular mechanisms mediating the soft tissue attachment to teethR01DE031270 · NIDCR · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · PI Jill A Helms · 2023 to 2026
$2.9M
NIDCR NIH HHS R01 DE031270NIH HHS R01DE031270
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimTo investigate additional factors contributing to the pathophysiology of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis and periodontitis beyond the systemic immune suppression caused by the chemotherapeutic agent 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU).

methods5-Fluorouracil was topically delivered to the non-keratinized, rapidly proliferating junctional epithelium (JE) surrounding the dentition, and acts as an immunologic and functional barrier to bacterial ingression. Various techniques, including EdU incorporation, quantitative immunohistochemistry (qIHC), histology, enzymatic activity assays, and micro-computed tomographic (μCT) imaging, were employed to analyze the JE at multiple time points following topical 5-FU treatment. Systemic 5-FU delivery was used for comparison, and all 5-FU treated tissues were compared to vehicle-treated controls.

resultsWe first showed that systemic 5-FU blocked mitotic activity that rapidly led to JE atrophy. This atrophy was accompanied by suppression of the immune system. We then demonstrated that topical 5-FU delivery effectively inhibited cell proliferation in the JE. Quantitative immunohistochemical (qIHC) analyses further demonstrated a progressive breakdown in JE barrier functions following topical 5-FU. CBC analyses confirmed that topical 5-FU did not alter the innate immune system but did suppress the local immune response of the JE. The longer-term consequences of this disruption in JE barrier functions were significant alveolar bone loss and an increase in porosity. Together, these results document the essential requirement for rapid JE cell proliferation to maintain homeostasis of the periodontium.

conclusionsThe reduction of cell division in the JE due to 5-FU treatment directly compromises both its structural integrity and immune surveillance capabilities, contributing to the destruction of periodontal hard tissues.

Indexed as

Epithelial AttachmentFluorouracilStomatitisAdministration, TopicalAlveolar Bone LossAnimalsCell ProliferationImmunohistochemistryMalePeriodontitisX-Ray MicrotomographyFluorouracilattachment apparatuschemotherapymucositis and periodontitis

Identifiers

PMID39799458
PMCPMC12254350

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