Deferoxamine Treatment Effectively Prevents Periodontitis Progression by Reducing Inflammation and Osteoclastogenesis in Experimental Periodontitis Rats

DFO effectively prevented osteoclast development, alveolar bone loss, and inflammation associated with periodontitis.

RAW264.7 cells were pretreated with DFO before stimulation with lipopolysaccharides from Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g-LPS). Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and inflammatory factors were measured, followed by analysis of relevant inflammatory pathways. Immunofluorescence and molecular biology methods were employed to assess osteoclast differentiation in RAW264.7 cells after nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) induction. A rat model of periodontitis was es\lished using ligature wires, and alveolar bone loss was assessed via micro-computed tomography. Osteoclastogenesis and periodontal inflammation were assessed through immunohistochemistry as well as hematoxylin and eosin staining.

Although the anti-inflammatory properties of the hypoxia-mimetic drug deferoxamine (DFO) have been reported, its potential as a treatment for periodontitis remains unknown. This study investigated the therapeutic benefits of DFO on osteoclastogenesis and inflammation in periodontitis progression.

DFO reduced the P.g-LPS-induced inflammatory factor expression (P < 0.0001) and upregulated HIF-1α (P = 0.0278) in RAW264.7 cells. DFO suppressed NF-κB signaling by inhibiting NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation and phosphorylation. DFO pretreatment inhibited osteoclast development by decreasing F-actin rings synthesis, reducing the number of mature osteoclasts (P < 0.0001) and downregulating osteoclast-specific markers (P < 0.05). In rat periodontitis models, DFO treatment reduced tissue inflammation, osteoclastogenesis, and alveolar bone loss (P < 0.05).