Combined Transcriptomic and Proteomic Profiling of the Mouse Anterior Cingulate Cortex Identifies Potential Therapeutic Targets for Pulpitis-Induced Pain

Pulpitis is a common
dental emergency that presents with intense
pain; there is still no specific medicine to treat pulpitis-induced
pain to date. Herein, differentially expressed genes in mouse anterior
cingulate cortex (ACC) were investigated 7 days after pulp exposure
via a combination of high-throughput transcriptomic and proteomic
analyses. We screened 34 key genes associated with 8 critical pathways.
Among these, genes (Elovl5, Ikbke, and Nbeal2) involved in immune
or inflammatory responses exhibited exclusive regulation at the transcriptomic
level, as confirmed by qRT-PCR. We also investigated the comprehensive
expression profiles of genes (Erg1, Shank2, Bche, Serinf1, and Pax6)
related to synaptic plasticity. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms
for pulpitis-induced pain through immune or inflammatory responses
and synaptic plasticity were discussed. Taken together, our findings
shed light on the mechanisms underlying pulpitis-induced pain, deepening
our understanding of the molecular pathways and providing potential
therapeutic and diagnostic targets.