By mid-century, nearly one in four Americans will be age 65 or older. In Canada, about one in five people are currently 65 or older, a share projected to approach one quarter of the population as baby boomers age. (iStock)

Studies link systemic inflammation to oral disease as UB researchers identify key protein

by Oral Health
By mid-century, nearly one in four Americans will be age 65 or older. In Canada, about one in five people are currently 65 or older, a share projected to approach one quarter of the population as baby boomers age. (iStock)
By mid-century, nearly one in four Americans will be age 65 or older. In Canada, about one in five people are currently 65 or older, a share projected to approach one quarter of the population as baby boomers age. (iStock)

Growing evidence suggests systemic inflammation may influence oral disease risk, with new findings from University at Buffalo researchers identifying a protein that helps regulate inflammatory pathways associated with aging, immune function and bone loss.

The UB study, led by Keith Kirkwood, professor of oral biology and senior associate dean for research at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, found that boosting levels of a naturally occurring protein that regulates inflammation reduced frailty and improved bone and immune health in aging mice. The findings were published in the January 2026 issue of Aging and Disease.

“This chronic activation of inflammation associated with aging has been coined “inflammaging,” says Kirkwood

The findings arrive as evidence continues to mount linking systemic inflammation to oral disease. A recent separate UK study analyzing data from 468,460 UK Biobank participants reported evidence of a directional association from systemic inflammation to oral disease, raising the possibility that targeted immunomodulatory approaches could play a role in future oral health care.

While oral disease has long been associated with elevated systemic inflammation and cardiovascular risk, the reverse relationship — whether systemic inflammation can causally influence oral health — has been less clearly defined.

Related: Chairside screening for oral inflammation: A case series

Aging population

As populations age, chronic low-grade inflammation has emerged as a major driver of disease. This phenomenon, often referred to as “inflammaging,” is associated with declining immune function, bone loss, reduced strength and a higher risk of chronic inflammatory conditions.

“These age-related changes, known as immunosenescence, lead to a decline in immune resilience and an increased susceptibility to age-related chronic inflammatory diseases,” Kirkwood said.

The research focused on tristetraprolin (TTP), an RNA-binding protein that helps shut down inflammatory signals by promoting the rapid breakdown of pro-inflammatory molecules. Previous studies have shown that TTP levels decline with age, particularly in immune cells, contributing to prolonged inflammatory activity.

In the new study, researchers genetically stabilized TTP in elderly mice — roughly equivalent in age to humans in their late 60s or early 70s — and compared them with untreated controls. The mice were assessed using standard frailty measures, including grip strength, gait speed, treadmill endurance and energy levels.

Male mice with enhanced TTP showed significantly lower frailty scores, while female mice also demonstrated improvements, though to a lesser extent. In both sexes, increased TTP was associated with stronger bones, reduced bone breakdown and a more youthful immune profile.

“The increase in TTP resulted in better grip strength, better walking, endurance and overall physical performance,” Kirkwood explains. “These mice had healthier bones and reduced bone breakdown. They exhibited a more youthful-looking immune profile.”

Related: Scientists find nine inflammation proteins indicating progression of gum disease in long-term study

US$2.1M funding

The six-year study was funded by a US$2.1-million grant from the National Institutes of Health and conducted across UB’s South and Downtown campuses in collaboration with geriatric medicine and molecular biology experts.

While the results are limited to animal models, Kirkwood said the findings help clarify how chronic inflammation contributes to frailty and skeletal decline — mechanisms also relevant to inflammatory oral diseases such as periodontitis and age-related bone loss.

Related: Study: Root canal treatments linked to better glucose control and lower systemic inflammation

Clinical applications in humans remain years away. Preliminary drug-screening efforts to safely boost TTP levels have not yet produced a viable candidate.

Even so, Kirkwood said the research opens the door to future studies, including work examining whether TTP may help regulate neuroinflammation linked to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

“I’m optimistic about where this research could lead and what we may learn as studies continue over time,” said Kirkwood.