Mapping Small Extracellular Vesicle Secretion Potential in Healthy Human Gingiva Using Spatial Transcriptomics

Regenerative processes occur at various levels in all organisms, yet their complexity continues to raise new questions about their mechanisms. It has been demonstrated that small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), secreted by all cells and influencing their function, play a significant role in regenerat...

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Main Authors: Blanka Maria Borowiec, Małgorzata Blatkiewicz, Marta Dyszkiewicz-Konwińska, Dorota Bukowska, Bartosz Kempisty, Marcin Ruciński, Michał Nowicki, Joanna Budna-Tukan
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Current Issues in Molecular Biology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/47/4/256
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author Blanka Maria Borowiec
Małgorzata Blatkiewicz
Marta Dyszkiewicz-Konwińska
Dorota Bukowska
Bartosz Kempisty
Marcin Ruciński
Michał Nowicki
Joanna Budna-Tukan
author_facet Blanka Maria Borowiec
Małgorzata Blatkiewicz
Marta Dyszkiewicz-Konwińska
Dorota Bukowska
Bartosz Kempisty
Marcin Ruciński
Michał Nowicki
Joanna Budna-Tukan
author_sort Blanka Maria Borowiec
collection DOAJ
description Regenerative processes occur at various levels in all organisms, yet their complexity continues to raise new questions about their mechanisms. It has been demonstrated that small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), secreted by all cells and influencing their function, play a significant role in regeneration. In the context of regenerative processes, oral mucosal tissues consistently receive interest, as they are among the most rapidly healing tissues in the human body. In this study, we utilized spatial transcriptomics to map gene expression to specific spatial locations within the gingiva tissue section, using publicly available transcriptomic data. This analysis revealed new insights into this tissue and the biogenesis of sEVs within it. The identified clusters encompassed two main regions—the epithelium and lamina propria—as well as minor niches within them. Using Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, we identified two clusters most enriched in extracellular vesicle-related GO processes. These included the superficial and deeper layers of the sulcular epithelium, one of the most peripheral regions of the gingiva. Of the 43 genes identified in the literature as having a potential or documented role in sEVs biogenesis, 12 were selected for further analysis. <i>MUC1</i>, <i>SDCBP2</i>, and <i>VPS37B</i> showed clear specificity and the highest expression in the superficial layer of the sulcular epithelium. <i>CHMP4C</i> also exhibited high expression in this layer, though its levels were comparable to the outer layer of the oral epithelium. Other well-established sEVs marker genes, such as <i>ANXA2</i>, <i>CD9</i>, <i>CD63</i>, <i>CD81</i>, <i>FLOT1</i>, <i>RAB22A</i>, <i>RAB27B</i>, and <i>RAB5A</i>, were also expressed in the examined tissue; however, their expression was not specifically exclusive to the sulcular epithelium. Our study is the first to perform a meta-analysis of available gingival transcriptomic data in the specific context of sEVs biogenesis. The presented data and conclusions provide new insights into the role of different structures within healthy human gingiva and shed new light on both known and potential markers of sEVs biogenesis. These findings may contribute to the development of regeneration-targeted research, especially on oral tissues.
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spelling doaj-art-85e1889b841f4d92b9b5e4261fe8a4bf2025-08-20T03:13:49ZengMDPI AGCurrent Issues in Molecular Biology1467-30371467-30452025-04-0147425610.3390/cimb47040256Mapping Small Extracellular Vesicle Secretion Potential in Healthy Human Gingiva Using Spatial TranscriptomicsBlanka Maria Borowiec0Małgorzata Blatkiewicz1Marta Dyszkiewicz-Konwińska2Dorota Bukowska3Bartosz Kempisty4Marcin Ruciński5Michał Nowicki6Joanna Budna-Tukan7Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-781 Poznań, PolandDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-781 Poznań, PolandDepartment of Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-812 Poznań, PolandDepartment of Diagnostics and Clinical Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 87-100 Toruń, PolandDivision of Anatomy, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-781 Poznań, PolandDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-781 Poznań, PolandDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-781 Poznań, PolandRegenerative processes occur at various levels in all organisms, yet their complexity continues to raise new questions about their mechanisms. It has been demonstrated that small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), secreted by all cells and influencing their function, play a significant role in regeneration. In the context of regenerative processes, oral mucosal tissues consistently receive interest, as they are among the most rapidly healing tissues in the human body. In this study, we utilized spatial transcriptomics to map gene expression to specific spatial locations within the gingiva tissue section, using publicly available transcriptomic data. This analysis revealed new insights into this tissue and the biogenesis of sEVs within it. The identified clusters encompassed two main regions—the epithelium and lamina propria—as well as minor niches within them. Using Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, we identified two clusters most enriched in extracellular vesicle-related GO processes. These included the superficial and deeper layers of the sulcular epithelium, one of the most peripheral regions of the gingiva. Of the 43 genes identified in the literature as having a potential or documented role in sEVs biogenesis, 12 were selected for further analysis. <i>MUC1</i>, <i>SDCBP2</i>, and <i>VPS37B</i> showed clear specificity and the highest expression in the superficial layer of the sulcular epithelium. <i>CHMP4C</i> also exhibited high expression in this layer, though its levels were comparable to the outer layer of the oral epithelium. Other well-established sEVs marker genes, such as <i>ANXA2</i>, <i>CD9</i>, <i>CD63</i>, <i>CD81</i>, <i>FLOT1</i>, <i>RAB22A</i>, <i>RAB27B</i>, and <i>RAB5A</i>, were also expressed in the examined tissue; however, their expression was not specifically exclusive to the sulcular epithelium. Our study is the first to perform a meta-analysis of available gingival transcriptomic data in the specific context of sEVs biogenesis. The presented data and conclusions provide new insights into the role of different structures within healthy human gingiva and shed new light on both known and potential markers of sEVs biogenesis. These findings may contribute to the development of regeneration-targeted research, especially on oral tissues.https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/47/4/256spatial transcriptomicsoral mucosagingivasmall extracellular vesiclesregeneration
spellingShingle Blanka Maria Borowiec
Małgorzata Blatkiewicz
Marta Dyszkiewicz-Konwińska
Dorota Bukowska
Bartosz Kempisty
Marcin Ruciński
Michał Nowicki
Joanna Budna-Tukan
Mapping Small Extracellular Vesicle Secretion Potential in Healthy Human Gingiva Using Spatial Transcriptomics
Current Issues in Molecular Biology
spatial transcriptomics
oral mucosa
gingiva
small extracellular vesicles
regeneration
title Mapping Small Extracellular Vesicle Secretion Potential in Healthy Human Gingiva Using Spatial Transcriptomics
title_full Mapping Small Extracellular Vesicle Secretion Potential in Healthy Human Gingiva Using Spatial Transcriptomics
title_fullStr Mapping Small Extracellular Vesicle Secretion Potential in Healthy Human Gingiva Using Spatial Transcriptomics
title_full_unstemmed Mapping Small Extracellular Vesicle Secretion Potential in Healthy Human Gingiva Using Spatial Transcriptomics
title_short Mapping Small Extracellular Vesicle Secretion Potential in Healthy Human Gingiva Using Spatial Transcriptomics
title_sort mapping small extracellular vesicle secretion potential in healthy human gingiva using spatial transcriptomics
topic spatial transcriptomics
oral mucosa
gingiva
small extracellular vesicles
regeneration
url https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/47/4/256
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