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Biomedicines
Special Issues
Inflammatory Mechanisms, Biomarkers and Treatment in Oral Diseases
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Inflammatory Mechanisms, Biomarkers and Treatment in Oral Diseases

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular and Translational Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 1026

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Raquel M. Scarel-Caminaga

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Morphology, Genetics, Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry at Araraquara, São Paulo State University—UNESP, Araraquara 14801-903, SP, Brazil
Interests: periodontal diseases; inflammatory pathways; biomarkers; diabetes mellitus; molecular biology; genetics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Inflammation is the cornerstone of the oral cavity's defense against microbial invasion, trauma, and other threats. This complex biological response, orchestrated by immune cells, a myriad of signalling molecules (cytokines, chemokines), vascular components, and antioxidants, is essential for maintaining tissue homeostasis and initiating healing. However, when dysregulated, unresolved, or excessive, inflammation becomes the primary driver of the most prevalent oral diseases globally. Chronic inflammatory conditions such as gingivitis, periodontitis, pulpitis, mucositis, peri-implantitis, oral lichen planus, and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) represent significant burdens on individual health and quality of life. Critically, oral inflammation is not confined to the mouth. It acts as a portal linking oral health to systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, and adverse pregnancy outcomes through disseminating inflammatory mediators and pathogens. Understanding the intricate molecular and cellular mechanisms governing the initiation, progression, and resolution of inflammation within the unique oral microenvironment is paramount for developing targeted, effective, and personalized preventive and therapeutic strategies.

This Special Issue will compile a comprehensive collection of high-quality original articles that delve into the latest advancements in elucidating the fundamental inflammatory pathways involved in the pathogenesis of oral diseases and explore novel therapeutic approaches targeting these pathways. We will foster a deeper understanding of the interplay between oral microbiota, host genetic profile and immune responses (innate and adaptive), tissue destruction, and attempts at resolution/regeneration in various oral inflammatory states.

We look forward to receiving your contributions, which will illuminate the complexities of oral inflammation and pave the way for the improved prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of oral diseases.

Dr. Raquel M. Scarel-Caminaga
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomedicines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • periodontal diseases
  • peri-implantitis
  • oral lichen planus
  • oral microbial dysbiosis
  • inflammatory pathways
  • biomarkers

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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14 pages, 980 KB  
Article
Non-Thermal Plasma vs. Low-Level Laser Therapy for Recurrent Oral Ulcers: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
by Norma Guadalupe Ibáñez-Mancera, Régulo López-Callejas, Víctor Hugo Toral-Rizo, Benjamín Gonzalo Rodríguez-Méndez, Edith Lara-Carrillo, Rosendo Peña-Eguiluz, Antonio Mercado-Cabrera, Raúl Valencia-Alvarado and Diego Medina-Castro
Biomedicines 2026, 14(1), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines14010141 - 10 Jan 2026
Viewed by 206
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Recurrent oral ulcers (ROUs) are a common condition that significantly impacts patients’ quality of life. This pilot study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary results of using non-thermal plasma (NTP) compared to low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and placebo to [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Recurrent oral ulcers (ROUs) are a common condition that significantly impacts patients’ quality of life. This pilot study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary results of using non-thermal plasma (NTP) compared to low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and placebo to treat these ulcers. Methods: A prospective, controlled, randomised, parallel-group pilot study was conducted using a convenience sample of 50 patients with ROUs. Patients were randomly assigned (2:2:1) to one of three groups: NTP (n = 20), LLLT (n = 20), and placebo (n = 10). Feasibility and preliminary data acquisition were the primary goals. Exploratory outcomes included ulcer size reduction and safety profile. This was a single-blinded trial, where participants and outcome assessors were masked to group assignment. Ulcer size, pain perception, and time to complete healing were measured. For statistical analysis, ANOVA was used, with a p-value ≤ 0.05. Results: The groups were comparable at baseline. Exploratory results suggest that NTP demonstrated a promising trend in accelerating healing, with a mean healing time difference of 5.5 days compared to LLLT (2.5 ± 1.9 days vs. 8.0 ± 4.3 days) and 7.1 days compared to placebo (2.5 ± 1.9 days vs. 9.6 ± 5.3 days) (p < 0.001). Regarding pain, NTP provided significant and sustained relief. Patients in the NTP group were asymptomatic on day 2, unlike the LLLT and placebo groups, where pain persisted significantly (NTP VAS score at 1 h: 1.1 ± 2.1 vs. LLLT/Placebo VAS score at 1 h: 3.4 ± 2.4 and 7.3 ± 1.9, respectively) (p < 0.001). NTP was well tolerated, and no adverse events were reported. Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that NTP is a potentially safe and effective therapy for recurrent oral ulcers. Preliminary results indicate that it may accelerate healing and offer superior pain relief, warranting a large-scale clinical trial to confirm these findings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inflammatory Mechanisms, Biomarkers and Treatment in Oral Diseases)
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12 pages, 1645 KB  
Article
Immunohistochemical Evaluation of ALDH1 and Maspin in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders and Oral Carcinoma
by Bianca-Andreea Onofrei, Delia Gabriela Ciobanu Apostol, Mădălina-Gabriela Tanasă, Elena-Raluca Baciu, Cristina Popa, Ana Maria Sciuca, George Alexandru Maftei and Victor-Vlad Costan
Biomedicines 2026, 14(1), 79; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines14010079 - 30 Dec 2025
Viewed by 192
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), including oral leukoplakia (OLK), oral lichen planus (OLP), and actinic cheilitis (AC), have varying risks of progression to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Biomarkers such as aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) and mammary serine protease inhibitor (Maspin) [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), including oral leukoplakia (OLK), oral lichen planus (OLP), and actinic cheilitis (AC), have varying risks of progression to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Biomarkers such as aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) and mammary serine protease inhibitor (Maspin) have shown potential for diagnostic and prognostic use in oral cancer. The present study aimed to evaluate the immunoexpression of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1, a cancer stem cell marker associated with aggressiveness, and the mammary serine protease inhibitor, a potential tumor suppressor, in OPMD and OSCC tissues. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 145 biopsy specimens collected from January 2015 to January 2023, including normal epithelium, OPMDs (OLK, OLP, AC), and OSCC. ALDH1 and Maspin expression levels were evaluated using immunohistochemistry, considering both the percentage of positive cells and staining intensity. Statistical analyses were carried out using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, version 29.0; IBM Corp., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: Normal oral epithelium showed no expression of ALDH1, whereas 40.6% of OPMDs and 44.4% of OSCC samples exhibited high cytoplasmic ALDH1 expression. Nuclear ALDH1 expression was elevated in 29.7% of OPMDs and 38.9% of OSCCs (p < 0.001). Nuclear Maspin expression was high in 95.2% of normal tissues, in 67.2% of OPMDs and in 55.6% of OSCCs (p < 0.001). Maspin showed strong nuclear and cytoplasmic expression in normal tissue, but its expression decreased in OPMDs and OSCCs, with statistically significant reductions in both compartments (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results indicate that ALDH1 upregulation and Maspin downregulation are hallmark events in oral carcinogenesis. Their combined evaluation provides a powerful tool for assessing dysplastic severity and malignant transformation risk in OPMDs. Future studies on larger cohorts are needed to confirm the prognostic utility of this dual-marker model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inflammatory Mechanisms, Biomarkers and Treatment in Oral Diseases)
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Other

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15 pages, 921 KB  
Systematic Review
Oxygen-Based Adjunct Therapies in Periodontitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Within the Framework of Hypoxia and Inflammation
by Tobias Kollmar, Markus Schepers, Andressa V. B. Nogueira, James Deschner and Lena Katharina Müller-Heupt
Biomedicines 2026, 14(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines14010009 - 19 Dec 2025
Viewed by 336
Abstract
Background/Aim: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of oxygen-based adjunct therapies in patients with periodontitis, including ozone therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and local oxygen delivery, as adjuncts to subgingival instrumentation. These interventions have been proposed to counteract tissue [...] Read more.
Background/Aim: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of oxygen-based adjunct therapies in patients with periodontitis, including ozone therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and local oxygen delivery, as adjuncts to subgingival instrumentation. These interventions have been proposed to counteract tissue hypoxia and inflammation, which sustain an environment favorable to anaerobic pathogens in periodontitis. Methods: An electronic search was conducted in MEDLINE PubMed, the Cochrane Library, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and SciELO. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2. Standardized mean difference was calculated for gains in clinical attachment level, and a random effects model was applied due to high variability. Results: The meta-analysis of adjunct ozone therapies presented a pooled standardized mean difference of 0.53 (95% CI [−0.14, 1.19]), indicating a clinically relevant medium effect in favor of ozone therapies, though this effect was not statistically significant and substantial heterogeneity was observed (I2 = 70%, p < 0.01). Meta-analysis was restricted to adjunct ozone therapies due to the limited availability of qualifying studies for hyperbaric oxygen therapy and local oxygen therapies. Conclusions: While the medium effect size in favor of ozone therapies could be clinically relevant, the statistical non-significance underscores the need for more evidence before widespread adoption. Individual studies reported significant benefits for adjunct HBOT and ozonated olive oil, but comparison between oxygen delivery modes was not possible due to heterogeneous protocols. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inflammatory Mechanisms, Biomarkers and Treatment in Oral Diseases)
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