2OO9 – 2O1O - Faculty of Dentistry - University of Otago

Oral Molecular and Immunopathology
Programme Leaders: Professor Greg Seymour and Associate Professor Alison Rich
OVERVIEW
The main objective of our group is to explore the cellular
and molecular basis of oral diseases, so as to improve
their diagnosis and treatment. The group has three
major themes: (i) periodontal diseases; (ii) oral mucosal
disease including oral squamous cell carcinoma; and (iii)
tissue regeneration. In this context, a range of molecular,
immunological and pathological tools are employed,
including genomic and focused micro-arrays, real time PCR,
and immunohistochemistry. In terms of periodontal disease,
the focus is on using the peripheral blood and salivary
transcriptomes in the determination of susceptibility, the
use of metagenomics to further our understanding of the
oral microbiota in health and disease, and epigenetics to
determine the influence of environmental factors such as
smoking. The relationship with systemic diseases is being
investigated as part of a multidisciplinary international
collaborative study, while the immunopathological
mechanisms underpinning oral mucosal disease and
periapical pathology are being investigated using
single and double layer immunofluorescence and
immunohistochemistry augmented by PCR and microarray
technology. Endoplasmic stress in inflamed oral tissues
is being explored and the role of periapical stem cells
and angiogenesis in root development and the effect of
bisphosphonates on gene expression in oral cells are
also being investigated. In collaboration with the oral
implantology research group, healing associated with dental
implants is being studied in terms of gene expression
and immunohistology. An evaluation is being made of the
relationship between intestinal and oral manifestations of
Crohn’s Disease.
STAFF AND STUDENTS
Praveen Parachuru Doris Lam
Dawn Coates Kimmy Lin
Eric Chen Robert Love
Patty Chou Trudy Milne
Mary Cullinan Anita Nolan
Norman Firth Erni Noor
Lara Friedlander Edward Ohlrich
Osea Gavidi Alison Rich
Nick Heng Benedict Seo
Haizal Hussaini Greg Seymour
Faizal Hidayat Sobia Zafar
Lynda Horne
12 FACULTY OF DENTISTRY RESEARCH REPORT 2009-2010
The Crohn’s disease study is being undertaken in
conjunction with colleagues in the Department of
Biochemistry University of Otago, and Dunedin,
Christchurch and Auckland Hospitals.
We have international collaborative studies with the Oral
Cancer Research and Coordinating Centre, University of
Malaya (www.malaysiaoralcancer.org) Malaysia, the School
of Medicine of the University of Queensland, Australia,
the School of Dentistry, Niigata University, Japan, the
University of Hong Kong, and a developing collaboration
with the University of Sheffield.
In association with the School of Medicine at the University
of Queensland, the group is conducting a major 5-year
longitudinal clinical study on the relationship between
periodontal and cardiovascular diseases. This study has
attracted over $3 million in funding over the past 5 years
and, as a result, the group is considered a world leader in
this field. The group is also recognised as a world leader in
using molecular and cellular techniques in clinical trials.
SPECIFIC RESEARCH PROJECTS
Characterisation of natural regulatory T cells and Th17
cells in human periodontal disease;
Expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and distribution
of immune cells in oral squamous cell carcinoma;
Expression of toll-like receptor 2 in oral mucosal lichen
planus using immunohistochemistry and quantitative realtime
reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction;
Endoplasmic stress in periodontal diseases;
TLR2 & 4 in periapical lesions and Immunohistochemical
localization of TLR2, TLR4, and the RANK/RANKL/
OPG system in pulp and periradicular disease associated
inflammatory root resorption;
Gene expression profiles of GroEL and heat shock
protein 60 specific T cells in atherosclerosis and chronic
periodontitis;
The salivary and peripheral blood transcriptomes and
susceptibility to progressive periodontal disease;
The relationship between intestinal and oral Crohn’s disease;
The role of bisphosphates on gingival fibroblast gene
expression; and
Periapical stem cells and angiogenesis in the periapical
region.