Fig. 4: Targeting HK1 by AAV9-shHK1-GFP and 2-DG both alleviated the ABR in the rat AP model.

a Flow diagram of the treatment of apical periodontitis (AP) with the macrophage-targeted AAV9-shHK1-GFP (4.67 ×10¹¹ v.g/rat, 10 μL/rat) or 2-DG (400 mg/kg) in rats (n = 9 rats per group). b The representative images of hexokinase 1 (HK1) (red) and nuclear factor-κB receptor activator (RANK) (pink) detection in the alveolar bone (AB) tissues of rats (n = 3 independent experiments). c The representative micro-CT images of AB tissues of the rats (n = 3 independent experiments; mean ± SD). The bone resorption fraction was defined as bone resorption surface area (BRS)/bone resorption volume (BRV). d The representative micro-CT images of AB tissues of rats (n = 3 independent experiments with 3 technical replicates; mean ± SD). The bone resorption fraction was defined as bone resorption surface area (BRS) (mm²)/bone resorption volume (BRV) (mm³). e, f Morphometric imaging showed TRAP staining in the AB tissues of rats (n = 3 independent experiments with 3 technical replicates; mean ± SD). Scale bar indicates 1 mm in the left and scale bar indicates 100 μm in the right. Arrowheads pointed the TRAP-positive surfaces. TRAP-positive multinucleated cells were counted as OC. g, h The mRNA and protein levels of HK1, nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFATc1), matrix metalloprotein 9 (MMP9), and cathepsin K (CTSK) in the AB tissues of rats were determined (n = 3 independent experiments; mean ± SD). i The level of relevant protein in the AB tissues of rats were determined (n = 3 independent experiments; mean ± SD). j The mRNA levels in the AB tissues of rats were determined (n = 3 independent experiments; mean ± SD). The AAV9-shNC group AP rats were received the treatment of unedited plasmid carried by AAV9 vector; the PBS group AP rats were treated with PBS, a solvent for 2-DG. The major statistical procedures applied were: Shapro–Wiik test (c, d, e–j), F-test (i), student-t test (c, d, e–h, j), Wilcoxon test (g, h, j), Kruskal–Wallis H test and Dunnett-t test (i). The statistical test used was two-sided. Source data are available online for this figure.