Cynarin alleviates apical periodontitis by inhibiting macrophage M1 polarization via the PGC1α/ROS signaling axis

Abstract

Apical periodontitis (AP) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by immune dysregulation and periapical bone destruction. Although targeting macrophage plasticity represents a promising strategy, effective and safe bioactive interventions remain limited. In this study, we integrated bioinformatics analysis with clinical validation and identified PGC1α as a critical hub gene linking AP pathology to macrophage polarization. Analysis of human clinical samples confirmed a negative correlation between PGC1α expression and pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-1β) as well as oxidative stress levels (4-HNE). Through virtual screening of the ZINC database, Cynarin, a natural polyphenol enriched in artichoke (Cynara scolymus), was identified as a candidate PGC1α-targeting bioactive. In vitro experiments demonstrated that Cynarin dose-dependently upregulated PGC1α expression and protected the protein from proteolytic degradation. Mechanistically, cynarin suppressed M1 polarization and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression by upregulating PGC1α and reducing ROS accumulation in a PGC1α-dependent manner. Notably, these protective effects were abrogated by the specific PGC1α inhibitor SR-18292. Furthermore, in a murine model of experimental AP, Cynarin administration significantly attenuated inflammatory bone loss, as evidenced by micro-CT and histological assessment. Collectively, our findings identify a PGC1α/ROS-dependent mechanism by which cynarin regulates macrophage polarization and suggest that artichoke-derived bioactives may represent candidate adjuncts for controlling inflammatory bone loss in AP.