Investigating the Role of Necroptosis in the Immunological Microenvironment of Periodontitis

Background Extensive research has delved into the nexus between necroptosis and immunity, yet its impact on the immunological microenvironment of periodontitis remains elusive. Therefore, our study aims to elucidate the role of necroptosis in shaping this particular microenvironment. Results We examined the differential expression of necroptosis genes in healthy and periodontitis samples, analyzing their correlations with infiltrating immunocytes, immune responses, and the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene. Distinct necroptosis-mediated expression patterns were identified, along with genes associated with the necroptosis phenotype. Notably, 37 necroptosis genes were dysregulated, leading to the development of a seven-necroptosis classifier that accurately distinguished periodontitis from healthy samples. Our findings reveal a profound association between necroptosis and the immunological microenvironment, evidenced by the positive correlation between ZBP1 and MLKL expression with plasma cells, the negative correlation between TNFRSF1B and ZBP1 with resting dendritic cells, and the modulation of BCR signaling and TGF family receptor activity by ZBP1 and MLKL. Furthermore, we uncovered a positive correlation between ZBP1 and HLA-C expression and a negative correlation between HSPA4 and HLA-A expression. Our analysis identified two distinct necroptosis expression patterns, each characterized by unique immune features. Among the 5272 genes associated with the necroptosis phenotype, 339 genes were linked to immunity, their biological functions centering on immunocyte regulation. Conclusion This study underscores the significant role of necroptosis in shaping the immunological microenvironment of periodontitis, offering novel insights into the pathogenesis of this condition and paving the way for potential therapeutic strategies for periodontitis and its systemic comorbidities.