Predicting the response of the dental pulp to SARS-CoV2 infection: a transcriptome-wide effect cross-analysis

Abstract

Pulpitis, inflammation of the dental pulp, is a disease that often necessitates emergency dental care. While pulpitis is considered to be a microbial disease primarily caused by bacteria, viruses have also been implicated in its pathogenesis. Here, we determined the expression of the SARS-CoV2 receptor, angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and its associated cellular serine protease TPMRSS2 in the dental pulp under normal and inflamed conditions. Next, we explored the relationship between the SARS-CoV-2/human interactome and genes expressed in pulpitis. Using existing datasets we show that both ACE2 and TPMRSS2 are expressed in the dental pulp and, that their expression does not change under conditions of inflammation. Furthermore, Master Regulator Analysis of the SARS-CoV2/human interactome identified 75 relevant genes whose expression values are either up-regulated or down-regulated in both the human interactome and pulpitis. Our results suggest that the dental pulp is vulnerable to SARS-CoV2 infection and that SARS-CoV-2 infection of the dental pulp may contribute to worse outcomes of pulpitis.

Fig. 1. ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression in normal and inflamed human dental pulps.

Differences in RMA log2 signal intensity between samples were analyzed using Student’s t test. No statistical difference was found in the expression of both genes in normal and inflamed dental pulps.