Inflammatory conditions of teeth and their surrounding structure lead to tissue destruction and alveolar bone loss. This review critically examines the emerging role of PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) in periodontology and orthodontic tooth movement focusing on their involvement in inflammation, bone remodeling, and cellular regulation with periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. Although piRNAs were initially characterized in reproductive biology, recent studies suggest their involvement in fundamental biological basis: Both involve inflammatory responses, bone remodeling, and the regulation of cellular activities within the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. Traditionally, research has focused on protein-coding genes, cytokines, and signaling molecules. However, the emerging role of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs, long ncRNAs, and piRNAs, is revolutionizing the understanding of oral biology. This review highlights key findings: identification of piRNA's with relevance to oral biology (piR-63049 and piR-36741); their association with Wnt/β-catenin and BMP2/METTL3-m6A pathways; evidence supporting piRNAs as potential biomarkers in saliva/gingival crevicular fluid; and the translational potential of exosome-mediated piRNA delivery for periodontal regeneration and orthodontic modulation. piRNAs thus represent a novel regulatory component, and their potential use as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets warrants the need for further investigation to establish their functional relevance in oral health and disease.
BN et al. (Fri,) studied this question.