Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40022258›Full record

ArticleMicrobiome2025

An in vitro model demonstrating homeostatic interactions between reconstructed human gingiva and a saliva-derived multispecies biofilm.

Lin Shang, Sanne Roffel, Vera Slomka, Eleanor M D'Agostino, Aline Metris, Mark J Buijs, Bernd W Brandt, Dongmei Deng, Susan Gibbs, Bastiaan P Krom

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Microbiome, 2025. 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

10 authors.

Lin ShangDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1081 LA, The Netherlands. l.shang@amsterdamumc.nl.
Sanne RoffelDepartment of Oral Cell Biology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Vera SlomkaUnilever Oral Care, Bebington, UK.
Eleanor M D'AgostinoUnilever Oral Care, Bebington, UK.
Aline MetrisUnilever Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre (SEAC), Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedford, UK.
Mark J BuijsDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1081 LA, The Netherlands.
Bernd W BrandtDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1081 LA, The Netherlands.
Dongmei DengDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1081 LA, The Netherlands.
Susan GibbsDepartment of Oral Cell Biology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Bastiaan P KromDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1081 LA, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn the oral cavity, host-microbe interactions (HMI) continuously occur and greatly impact oral health. In contrast to the well-studied disease-associated HMI during, for example, periodontitis, HMI that are essential in maintaining oral health have been rarely investigated, especially in a human-relevant context. The aim of this study was to extensively characterize homeostatic HMI between saliva-derived biofilms and a reconstructed human gingiva (RHG). RHG was reconstructed following the structure of native gingiva, composed of a multilayered epithelium formed by keratinocytes and a fibroblast-populated compartment. To mimic the oral environment, RHG were inoculated with pooled human saliva resuspended in different saliva substitute media and incubated for 2 or 4 days. The co-cultured biofilms were retrieved and characterized by viable bacterial counting and compositional profiling (16S rRNA gene sequencing). RHG was investigated for metabolic activity (MTT assay), tissue histology (hematoxylin and eosin staining), epithelial proliferation (Ki67 staining), antimicrobial peptide expression, and cytokine secretion.

resultsViable biofilms were detected up to day 4 of co-culturing. Bacterial counts indicated biofilm growth from the inoculation to day 2 and maintained thereafter at a similar level until day 4. All biofilms shared similar composition throughout 4 days, independent of co-culture time and different saliva substitute media used during inoculation. Biofilms were diverse with Streptococcus, Haemophilus, and Neisseria being the dominating genera. While supporting biofilm development, RHG displayed no significant changes in metabolic activity, tissue histology, or epithelial proliferation. However, in the presence of biofilms, the antimicrobial peptides elafin and human β-defensin-2 were upregulated, and the secretion of cytokines IL-6, CXCL1, CXCL8, CCL5, and CCL20 increased.

conclusionThis model mimicked homeostatic HMI where a healthy gingiva supported a viable, diverse, and stable microbial community, incorporating bacterial genera found on native gingiva. The gingiva model maintained its tissue integrity and exerted protective responses in the presence of biofilms over time. This study adds to the evidence that shows the important role of the host in maintaining homeostatic HMI that are essential for oral health. Video Abstract.

Indexed as

BacteriaBiofilmsGingivaHost Microbial InteractionsSalivaCoculture TechniquesCytokinesFibroblastsHomeostasisHumansKeratinocytesMicrobiotaRNA, Ribosomal, 16SCytokinesRNA, Ribosomal, 16S16S rRNA gene sequencingBiofilmsGingivaHost-microbe interactionsOrganotypic model

Identifiers

PMID40022258
PMCPMC11869481

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.