ABSTRACT
Background: One of the major direct or indirect targets of ultraviolet exposure of skin is the melanocyte or the melanin -forming cell. Epidermal melanocytes act as a trap for free radicals. Based on the protective role of melanocytes in medical literature, the role of melanin pigmentation in gingiva needs to be elucidated. Periodontal pathogens and their products demonstrate the ability to induce the generation of reactive oxygen species. Hence purpose of this study was to unravel the protective role of melanin (if any) against the gingival inflammation. Materials and Methods: A total of 80 subjects; 20 in each group were selected. The selection of subjects regarding gingival pigmentation was based on Dummett's scoring criteria 0, 3. A complete medical, dental history and an informed consent were obtained from the patients. After evaluation of clinical parameters the GCF was collected using microcapillary pipettes at the selected sites. IL-1β levels were quantitated using ELISA. Results: In non-pigmented healthy and gingivitis groups, there was a positive correlation between plaque index, gingival index and bleeding index versus IL-1β level: indicating an increase in the biochemical mediator of inflammation corresponding to an increase in the clinical parameters of inflammation. Also a positive correlation was found between the gingival index and bleeding index versus the IL-1β levels in the pigmented healthy group. The pigmented gingivitis groups showed a negative correlation between the plaque index, gingival index and bleeding index. Conclusions: The clinical markers of inflammation such as gingival index, bleeding index was of low numerical value in pigmented group than in the non-pigmented group, supposedly due to the protective action of melanin. The negative correlation of clinical markers of inflammation to the IL-1β levels in the pigmented gingivitis group could possibly be attributed to the protective role of melanins.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Antioxidants/metabolism , Case-Control Studies , Female , Gingiva/immunology , Gingiva/metabolism , Gingivitis/immunology , Gingivitis/metabolism , Humans , Interleukin-1beta/immunology , Interleukin-1beta/metabolism , Male , Matched-Pair Analysis , Melanins/immunology , Melanins/metabolism , Middle Aged , Periodontal Index , Pigmentation/immunology , Reactive Oxygen Species , Reference Values , Statistics, Nonparametric , Young AdultABSTRACT
The behaviour of the albino and melanic variants of Biomphalaria glabrata of Belo Horizonte (MG. Brazil) was studied comparatively, in terms of their respective susceptibilities to infection by Schistosoma mansoni of the same origin, through observation of the elimination of cercariae for a three-month period and the calculation of mortality and infection rates, in control and in infected snails. The number of amoebocytes, granulocytes and hyalinocytes in the circulating hemolymph during different periods of infection was analyzed. The evolution of the infection in the tissues was observed by means of histological cross-sections. The melanic variant showed greater susceptibility to infection and a higher mortality rate. The albino variant showed a higher number of circulating amoebocytes, both granulocytes and hyalinocytes. A higher number of degenerated sporocysts were seen in the histological cross-sections of the albino variant. The results suggest that the melanic variant of B. glabrata was more susceptible to infection by S. mansoni than was the albino variant.
Foi estudado comparativamente o comportamento das variantes albina e melânica de Biomphalaria glabrata de Belo Horizonte (MG. Brasil), em relação à susceptibilidade à infecção pelo Schistosoma mansoni de mesma origem, através da observação da eliminação de cercárias por um período de três meses e a verificação das taxas de mortalidade e infecção nos moluscos controles e infectados. Analisou-se também, o número de amebócitos granulócitos e hialinócitos na hemolinfa circulante em diferentes períodos de infecção. A evolução da infecção nos tecidos foi observada através de cortes histológicos. A variante melânica apresentou maior susceptibilidade à infecção e maior taxa de mortalidade. A variante albina apresentou maior número de amebócitos circulantes, tanto granulócitos quanto hialinócitos. Nos cortes histológicos foi verificado maior número de esporocistos degenerados na variedade albina. Por estes resultados sugere-se que nas populações estudadas a variante melânica de B. glabrata, foi mais susceptível à infecção pelo S. mansoni.