Analysis of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms in patients with chronic periodontitis.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Genetic polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene are related to bone mineral density, bone turnover, and diseases with bone loss. Alveolar bone loss is a key feature in periodontitis. The aim of this study was to determine whether severe generalized chronic periodontitis (CP) in a Turkish population was associated with polymorphisms in the VDR gene. METHODS: Samples of venous blood and DNA were obtained from 72 patients with severe generalized chronic periodontitis and 102 healthy controls. The polymorphic regions were amplified using PCR followed by digestion with restriction enzymes BsmI A/G(rs1544410), ApaI G/T(rs11168271), TaqI T/C(rs731236), and analyzed electrophoretically. Genotype and allele frequencies were calculated. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the frequencies of VDR BsmI, ApaI, TaqI genotypes between the CP patients and healthy controls. The GTT haplotype, constructed from the three adjacent restriction fragment length polymorphisms was found to be over-represented among CP cases. This corresponded an OR of 2.4 (95% confidence interval, 1.12-5.18) for heterozygous carriers and 2.27 (95% confidence interval, 0.95-5.4) for homozygous carrier of the risk haplotype. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The present findings indicated that BsmI, ApaI, TaqI polymorphisms of the VDR gene were not associated with the severe generalized CP in the studied Turkish patients. Moreover, the VDR genotypes based on haplotype analysis may be associated with chronic periodontitis. In the future, diagnostic periodontal risk assessments like polymorphisms may be useful in detection of individuals susceptible for periodontitis.

Periodontal & systemic bone changes in rats with experimental lathyrism.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: It is not clear how lathyrism affects the systemic bone metabolism. We therefore undertook a study to observe periodontal and systemic bone changes by performing radiological, metabolic, and bone densitometric evaluations in rats with experimental lathyrism. METHODS: A total of 30 rats were used. Experimental lathyrism was induced by once daily subcutaneous administration of beta-aminopropionitrile (beta-APN), at a dose of 5 mg beta-APN/0.4 ml per 100 g of body weight for 40 days. After 40 days, vertebral bone mineral density was analyzed by means of dual energy X-ray absorbtiometry in both groups. Blood was drawn by cardiac puncture and the animals were decapitated. Serum calcium levels were measured. Right mandibles were removed and radiographs were obtained. Alveolar bone level was determined in the radiographs. RESULTS: In all lathyritic rats, alveolar bone level was pathologically decreased with visible resorption. Vertebral bone mineral density values of lathyritic rats did not differ significantly from those of the control group. Compared to controls, there was a statistically significant decrease in serum calcium levels in the lathyritic group (P<0.001). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Significant alveolar bone resorption without alterations in vertebral bone mineral density indicated that lathyrogen administration for 40 days presumably has not caused systemic demineralization. This model could be used for studying the role of local and systemic agents on periodontal alveolar bone resorption.

Determination of systemically & locally induced periodontal defects in rats.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The role of lathyrogens on bone metabolism is unclear, therefore we undertook this study to observe periodontal and systemic alterations in experimental lathyrism in rat and compare these changes to that observed in the locally induced periodontitis group. METHODS: A total of 45 male Wistar rats were equally divided in the lathyritic group (group 1), ligature-induced periodontitis group (group 2), and healthy controls (group 3). Experimental lathyrism was induced by once daily subcutaneous administration of beta-aminoproprionitrile (beta-APN), at a dose of 5 mg/0.4 ml per 100 g of body weight for 40 days. Ligature-induced periodontitis was created by tying silk ligatures on the necks of mandibular molars. After 40 days, blood samples were obtained and the animals were decapitated. Radiographic observations, extraction tests, histologic evaluations were performed, and serum ALP activity and gingival tissue IL-1beta levels were measured. RESULTS: Significant alveolar bone resorption around the mandibular molar teeth (P<0.001); lower extraction force levels (P<0.001); higher numbers of lymphocytes and macrophages (P<0.01) (both in connective tissue and epithelium at the dentogingival junction); decreased ALP activity (P<0.001); and increased gingival tissue IL-1beta levels (P<0.001) were observed in groups 1 and 2, compared to those in group 3. ALP activity was higher in group 1 than in group 2 rats (P<0.05). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Similar radiographical and histopathological findings and comparable increases in gingival tissue IL-1beta levels both in groups 1 and 2 showed that in addition to resorption of alveolar bone, chronic inflammation of periodontium also occurred both in the lathyritic rats as well as in ligature-induced periodontitis group rats.