New immunological aspects of peri-implantitis

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed to compare the levels of HIF1-α, VEGF, TNF-α, and IL-10 in the peri-implant crevicular fluid of patients with and without peri-implantitis. Methods: Forty patients, comprising 16 with and 24 without peri-implantitis were selected. Results: Patients with peri-implantitis exhibited significantly higher HIF-1α levels than those without peri-implantitis (p=0.0005). TNF-α revealed significant positive correlations with IL-10 (p=0.0008) and VEGF (p=0.0246), whereas HIF-1α and IL-10 levels (p=0.0041) demonstrated a negative and significative correlation in the peri-implantitis group. Conclusion: This study, for the first time demonstrates the balance of HIF-1α, TNFα, IL-10, and VEGF in peri-implantitis. It shows an elevated HIF-1α levels in patients with peri-implantitis, which could have stemmed from persistent inflammation- triggered hypoxia. Furthermore, the positive correlation between TNF-α and VEGF suggests intensified proinflammatory activity in peri-implantitis. Nevertheless, further studies are essential to understand these immune dynamics in peri-implantitis.

Comparisons of IgA response in saliva and colostrum against oral streptococci species

Abstract The present study compared IgA specificity against oral streptococci in colostrum and saliva samples. Sixty-two mother-and-child pairs were included; samples of colostrum (C) and saliva (MS) were collected from the mothers and saliva samples were collected from babies (BS). The specificity of IgA against Streptococcus mutans and S. mitis were analyzed by western blot. Only 30% of babies’ samples presented IgA reactivity to S. mutans, while 74 and 80% of MS and C, respectively, presented this response. IgA reactivity to S. mutans virulence antigens (Ag I/II, Gtf and GbpB) in positive samples showed differences between samples for Gtf and especially for GbpB (p < 0.05), but responses to Ag I/II were similar (p > 0.05). The positive response of Gtf-reactive IgA was different between C (90%) and MS (58%) samples (p < 0.05), but did not differ from BS (p > 0.05). GbpB was the least detected, with 48 and 26% of C and MS, and only 5% of BS samples presenting reactivity (p > 0.05). Eight percent of MS and C samples presented identical bands to SM in the same time-point. In conclusion, the differences of IgA response found between C and MS can be due to the different ways of stimulation, proliferation and transportation of IgA in those secretions. The colostrum has high levels of IgA against S. mutans virulence antigens, which could affect the installation and accumulation process of S. mutans, mainly by supplying anti-GbpB IgA to the neonate.

Influência do Aleitamento Materno no Estabelecimento de Microrganismos Cariogênicos e Desenvolvimento de Cárie / Influence of Breastfeeding on the Development of Cariogenic Microorganisms and Tooth Decay

A cavidade bucal alberga espécies comensais que podem se tornar patogênicas e causar doenças, como a cárie. Pouco se sabe sobre como a exposição antigênica a microrganismos orais na gestação pode determinar a presença e transferência de anticorpos de mãe para os recémnascidos, que tem esta imunidade passiva como principal fonte de proteção. Desta maneira, o objetivo desta revisão foi realizar um levantamento bibliográfico a respeito de aspectos imunológicos relacionados com o aleitamento natural e seu papel protetor contra a colonização bucal inicial e desenvolvimento de cárie dentária em crianças. Os dados levantados permitiram concluir que os anticorpos do leite materno são dirigidos contra microrganismos a que a mãe tenha sido exposta, o que contribui para prevenção de doenças infecciosas, incluindo a cárie. Assim, a amamentação pode proporcionar fonte natural de amplo espectro de anticorpos no lactante, resultando em uma imunização passiva. No entanto, há pouca informação literária e atualizada a respeito da especificidade de anticorpos do leite materno contra as espécies cariogênicas, o que justifica a necessidade de elaboração de novas pesquisas

The oral cavity has commensal species that may become pathogenic and cause diseases, such as caries. Little is known about the antigenic exposition to oral microorganisms during the pregnancy and the presence and transfer of antibodies from mother to newborn, which has this passive immunity as the main source of protection. Thus, the aim of this review is to investigate in literature the immunological aspects related to breastfeeding and its protective role against the development of dental caries in children. The data collected can show that the antibodies from breast milk are directed against microorganisms that the mother has been exposed to, which contributes to prevention of infectious diseases, including dental caries. Thus, feeding can provide a natural source of broad spectrum of antibodies in lactating, resulting in passive immunization. However, little information about the specificity of breast milk antibodies against cariogenic species is found in literature, which justifies the need for development of new research.