The Subgingival Host–Microbial Landscape in Mothers With Periodontitis and Their At-Risk Offspring

Aim: To evaluate the subgingival proteome and microbiome of mothers with periodontitis and their offspring, thereby assessing signatures of periodontal diseases. Methods: Forty participants in four groups were included: mothers with periodontitis and their offspring, as well as periodontally healthy mothers and their offspring. Periodontal clinical parameters were assessed. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and subgingival biofilm were collected from the same sites. Proteome from GCF was investigated by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with data-independent acquisition (DIA-PASEF). Bacterial DNA from subgingival biofilms was sequenced using the 16S rRNA gene for taxonomy assignment. Results: Overall, 6147 bacterial and human proteins (≥ 2 peptides) were quantified. Despite the absence of attachment loss, the offspring of mothers with periodontitis presented with similar proteotypes as their mothers, characterised by up-regulation of inflammatory response cascades and down-regulation of epithelial barrier proteins. They also displayed higher colonisation patterns by periodontopathogens while presenting with increased expression of bacterial virulence proteins compared with controls. Conclusion: The study showed that the maternal periodontal microbiome and proteome associate with those of the offspring and relate to maternal periodontal status. These early ecological events may potentially promote offspring's susceptibility to dysbiosis and may predispose them to periodontitis.