Genetic and intervention studies implicating complement C3 as a major target for the treatment of periodontitis

Highlights:

• In mice, C3 is required for maximal periodontal inflammation and bone loss, and for the sustenance of the dysbiotic microbiota.
• C3 is required  for induction of bone loss in distinct models, including Porphyromonas gingivalis–induced periodontitis, ligature-induced periodontitis, and aging-associated periodontitis.
• Local treatment of non-human primates (NHPs) with Cp40 inhibits ligature-induced periodontal inflammation and bone loss, which correlates with lower gingival crevicular fluid levels of proinflammatory mediators and decreased osteoclastogenesis in bone biopsy specimens, as compared with control treatment.
• Conclusion: This study’s findings strongly support the feasibility of C3-targeted intervention for the treatment of human periodontitis.