The role of NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasomes in dental pulp inflammation and reparative processes

Abstract

In the dental pulp, an acute inflammatory response is crucial for initiating healing and repair. The dental pulp is capable of mounting such a response by expressing sophisticated immune response components. Many studies investigated the role of different immune response components in dental pulp inflammation and repair, but the emerging role of Absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) and Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes is yet to be elucidated.

In this thesis, the role of AIM2 and NLPR3 receptors was explored, both in bacterial and sterile inflammation context. Furthermore, the potential of modulating the inflammatory responses via these receptors to mediate repair.

The findings of the thesis confirmed the importance of inflammation in dental pulp healing and repair following injury and demonstrated novel roles for NLRP3 inflammasomes and DNA sensors in this process.

Date of Award	Jul 2021
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Queen's University Belfast
Sponsors	Jordan University of Science and Technology
Supervisor	Ikhlas El Karim (Supervisor), Fionnuala Lundy (Supervisor) & Yvonne Dombrowski (Supervisor)