
Reversing periodontal disease using Geroscience: Jonathan An



Stage: Early stage preclinical discovery
Area: Drug discovery, treating periodontal disease
Status: Ongoing
Patent: Not filed yet
Background
Efforts to slow the progression of periodontitis in older adults have been attempted through various therapies, including scaling and root planing (“deep cleanings”) or antibacterial adjuncts to reduce pathogens in the pocket, but these treatment modalities are invasive, need to be repeated often, and rely on access to such modalities, which may be limited for many older adults. Furthermore, current therapies are limited to treating the symptoms and fail to address the underlying cellular and molecular causes of periodontal disease, which we hypothesize are a direct consequence of biological aging. A component in most age-related disease and decline is a low-grade, chronic inflammation without overt infection known as “inflammaging”. Among the various organ systems that undergo inflammaging, periodontal disease involves most, if not all, sources and outcomes of inflammaging. Thus, evaluating pathways that target “inflammaging” may provide a unique, Geroscience-based treatment modality to reverse periodontal disease.
Aims, Hypothesis & Results
Jonathan An’s Lab proposes to use small molecule inhibitors of the PI3K/NFkB/mTOR pathway to treat periodontal disease. Johnathan An’s Lab envision improvement of the periodontal disease phenotype after 8-week treatment with the candidate compounds maybe a result of (1) an improvement of systemic “inflammaging” to impact periodontal disease that will be tested with the first study (systemic administration), or (2) a direct improvement of periodontal disease, which will be tested with the second study (local administration). Either result could be the base for novel IP regarding formulation and/or delivery methods to improve aging, inflammation, and periodontal disease. Jonathan An’s collaborators also have preliminary data showing that a few of the tested interventions have beneficial effects on neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Therefore, besides periodontal bone loss, the study will address other systemic markers of healthspan, including inflammation.
The proposal is mainly based on a recent eLife paper (Rapamycin rejuvenates oral health in aging mice | eLife 7) by the research group, where they find positive effects of 8-week treatment with oral rapamycin in age-related periodontal bone loss in mice.
Timeline
Pre-Clinical Studies:
- Test 5 selected drug candidates with known pharmacokinetics administered orally in the chow in an 8-week study, using rapamycin as a positive control (Required funding for experiment 1 = $192,925).
- If this first study demonstrates that any of the small molecules is effective in reversing periodontal disease to similar degree than rapamycin when administered systemically, a second sub-study will be carried out to test the effectiveness of their local delivery by brushing the interventions across the gum line, comparing them with locally delivered rapamycin (Required funding for experiment 2 = $105,625).
- Results from the proposed studies will provide critical pre-clinical IP data to support a future company targeting periodontal disease through geroscience, which the investigator(s) intend to spin out with support from VitaDAO.
Required Funding Total: $300,000
Status: Ongoing
VitaDAO Board Evaluation Writeup
Periodontitis is an unmet need with great impact on healthspan. This project focusing on using a geroscience approach and alleviating inflammaging was evaluated to have strong feasibility to tackle the issue. The proposal was highly rated for a strong scientific team, high novelty and impact, as well as IP-NFT potential. The team has access to dental clinics, which would greatly accelerate the clinical trial process, if the animal studies provide positive data.

Non Consectetur Necessitatibus
Aspernatur corrupti ea cupiditate possimus ullam nesciunt et. Dignissimos nobis minima assumenda qui provident possimus et ipsa. Eum sapiente sit numquam nemo consequa

Dolorum Quia
Labore voluptates nostrum qui repudiandae. Dolorem qui ullam quod labore iusto eum aut et consequatur. Illum enim quia sit. Itaque ut corrupti ducimus cumque quos qui quis. A amet perspiciatis assumenda corrupti qui facilis dolorem. Et quisquam soluta non necessitatibus cumque ex

Eum Harum Asperiores Id
Molestias et qui commodi. Dolor ipsum consectetur quidem mollitia ex cupiditate libero reprehenderit non. Repudiandae facere consequatur adipisci ipsum ipsa. Quia recusandae cupiditate ipsum laborum consequuntur quos. Cupiditate veniam est et sunt dolor praesentium sed voluptas distin

Ex Temporibus Perferendis
Sit libero dolorem voluptate voluptatem. Pariatur sapiente dolor aut est explicabo tenetur est. A id ipsa officiis recusandae. Nemo est voluptatem non delectus eum alias. Ut maiores aliquam illum. Velit recusandae aut. Cupiditate unde non tempore. Facilis vero repudianda

Culpa Possimus
Quasi est ut id amet at ad nesciunt amet corrupti. Commodi sint et ducimus dolorum nisi enim necessitatibus iste soluta. Qui sit rerum dolores temporibus molestiae fuga sapiente. Incidunt quaerat unde quaerat rerum et debitis praesentium et ipsum. Aut magni cupiditate odit eligendi. Illo quod

Earum Est Dolorem
Aut asperiores labore illo aut reiciendis neque. Delectus officiis veritatis non enim blanditiis occaecati. Rerum cupiditate officiis explicabo. Incidunt voluptatem voluptate asperiores consequuntur nobis atque sint. Quibusdam odio expedita dolores aut quia voluptas molestiae libero. Necessitatibus

Aperiam Et Quis Et
Praesentium esse velit assumenda incidunt maxime et. Sit iure odit rerum repellat maxime. Dignissimos deleniti architecto ab at amet animi architecto. Sequi dicta sed est nobis consequatur aspernatur aliquam et. Distinctio sit soluta. Optio et ullam placeat ut aut in maiores. Nemo et s

Voluptas Quam Sapiente
Excepturi ut quisquam rerum dolor et iste et rerum quo. Et atque ut animi excepturi excepturi ut sint. Minima dolor saepe omnis eligendi. Ab ea ut et accusamus in harum. Rerum possimus sit tempora. At est iste fuga ducimus beatae deleniti ipsum. Eligendi quis exercitationem ut. Omnis u

Aut Accusantium Ut
Aut a laborum soluta et magni. Adipisci in aut et possimus enim. Et omnis id tempora at ea dolorum eaque. Et iste similique eum suscipit aspernatur. Voluptate aliquid omnis et optio recusandae qui voluptate. Voluptas eum illo excepturi. Sed quo dolorem repudiandae molestiae at eligendi necessita

Nisi
Voluptatem aut ut blanditiis et at quis id. Excepturi iure quia molestias deserunt. Repellat veniam qui voluptates molestias non. Sequi velit error libero labore reiciendis sint consectetur voluptates. Vel vero sit recusandae animi. Quasi id molestiae nam doloremque saepe dolorum ut. Error ut aut l
The vote has passed, the decision is made: Jonathan An’s Lab will be the first research organisation in the USA to fund their longevity research via an IP-NFT. This historic moment needs to be celebrated properly!
Discover more projects & initiatives

Humanity
Humanity is a quantified-self app that connects wearables and activity apps to monitor digital biomarkers. The app generates a proprietary aging score, helping users understand activities that slow down or reverse their aging rate. The company uses behavior modification tools and develops biomarkers to guide users toward better healthspan interventions.

Matrix Bio
VitaDAO and the Gorbunova Lab are launching Matrix Bio, a cutting-edge research venture leveraging the anti-cancer and pro-longevity effects of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid from naked mole rat to human.

BE Therapeutics - Brain Tissue Replacement
The neocortex, the part that underlies our highest cognitive functions and self-identity, can be replaced by progressively replacing tissue areas over time without significant disruption in function or self-identity. This offers the possibility of age reversal for the neocortex through progressive tissue replacement.

ExcepGen Inc - RNA therapeutics for longevity
ExcepGen uses its RNAx platform to develop advanced vaccines that address viral infections linked to premature aging and shortened lifespan. The platform improves RNA cargo's effectiveness, promoting significant protein production for enhanced protection.