Exploring Maternally Expressed Gene 3 as a Diagnostic Biomarker in Chronic Periodontitis

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of maternally expressed gene 3 in chronic periodontitis. Although previous research has linked long non-coding RNA for maternally expressed gene 3 to periodontitis, its role in chronic periodontitis remains unclear. Eighty chronic periodontitis patients and 80 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Maternally expressed gene 3 levels in the gingival crevicular fluid were quantified through Quantitative Real-Time Reverse Transcription polymerase chain reaction. Additionally, serum proinflammatory cytokines were detected using Enzymelinked Immunosorbent Assay. Statistical analyses, including the χ2 test and Pearson correlation, were used to evaluate the relationship between maternally expressed gene 3 levels and periodontitis clinical characteristics. Results indicated a significant decline in maternally expressed gene 3 levels in patients with chronic periodontitis compared to controls. Furthermore, maternally expressed gene 3 was associated with probing pocket depth, attachment loss, plaque index, and bleeding index. Elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines, negatively correlated with maternally expressed gene 3 abundance, were also observed in patients. These findings suggest that maternally expressed gene 3 downregulation is a characteristic feature of chronic periodontitis, serving as a valuable diagnostic marker. This study contributes to understanding the molecular mechanisms of chronic periodontitis and opens avenues for novel diagnostic modalities.