Cathepsin C promotes the progression of periapical periodontitis

Abstract This study evaluated a surgically induced model of periapical periodontitis in cathepsin C (Cat C) knock-down or wild-type mice to evaluate the role of Cat C in the pathogenesis and progression of periapical periodontitis. Our results confirmed that there was a statistical increase in the expression of Cat C as periapical periodontitis progressed; this increase started from 1 week after surgery and reached a peak at 3 weeks after surgery, before gradually decreasing. The volume of periapical bone resorption of Cat C KD mice was significantly smaller than that of wild-type mice at 3 and 4 weeks after surgery (P