ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There are few studies on periodontal status related to microbiologic and immunologic profiles among individuals not or occasionally using alcohol and those with alcohol dependence. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of alcohol consumption on the levels of subgingival periodontal pathogens and proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1ß and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α) in the gingival fluid among individuals with and without periodontitis. METHODS: This observational analytic study includes 88 volunteers allocated in four groups (n = 22): individuals with alcohol dependence and periodontitis (ADP), individuals with alcohol dependence and without periodontitis (ADNP), individuals not or occasionally using alcohol with periodontitis (NAP), and individuals not or occasionally using alcohol without periodontitis (NANP). Levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Prevotella intermedia, Eikenella corrodens, and Fusobacterium nucleatum were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction on the basis of the subgingival biofilm, and IL-1ß and TNF-α were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in gingival fluid samples. RESULTS: Individuals with alcohol dependence showed worse periodontal status and higher levels of P. intermedia, E. corrodens, F. nucleatum, and IL-1ß than non-users. No significant correlations between TNF-α and bacterial levels were observed. However, in the ADP group, higher levels of E. corrodens were correlated with higher levels of IL-1ß. CONCLUSION: A negative influence of alcohol consumption was observed on clinical and microbiologic periodontal parameters, as well as a slight influence on immunologic parameters, signaling the need for additional studies.
Subject(s)
Alcohol Drinking , Gingival Crevicular Fluid/microbiology , Gram-Negative Bacteria/isolation & purification , Interleukin-1beta/analysis , Periodontitis/microbiology , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/analysis , Adult , Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans/isolation & purification , Alcohol Drinking/immunology , Alcoholism/immunology , Alcoholism/microbiology , Bacterial Load , Biofilms , Cross-Sectional Studies , Eikenella corrodens/isolation & purification , Female , Fusobacterium nucleatum/isolation & purification , Gingival Crevicular Fluid/immunology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Periodontitis/immunology , Porphyromonas gingivalis/isolation & purification , Prevotella intermedia/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Increased expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), miR-21, miR-345, and miR-181b has been demonstrated in oral leukoplakia (OL) that progresses to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), suggesting a miRNA signature with potential prognostic value. On the basis of these findings, this pilot study aimed to investigate the cytological and histopathological features that are used to grade oral dysplasia and determine associations with the expression of these 3 potentially cancer-related miRNAs. We also compared the expression levels of these miRNAs in OL with normal oral mucosa and OSCC. METHODS: We evaluated miRNA expression by qPCR in 22 samples of OL demonstrating different grades of dysplasia, as well as 17 cases of OSCC, and 6 samples of normal oral mucosa. We associated the miRNAs expression profiles with cytological and histopathological features of OL. RESULTS: OSCC cases showed increased expression of all 3 miRNAs when compared with OL and normal oral mucosa. Increased expression of miR-21 was also observed in OL when compared with normal oral mucosa. We found a higher expression of miR-21 and miR-181b in OL that presented with an increased number of mitotic figures, increased nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, or hyperchromasia. Increased expression of miR-21 was also detected in OL with abnormally superficial mitosis. Higher expression of miR-345 was observed in OL with an increased number and size of nucleoli or increased nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the present study shows that some cytological and histopathological parameters used to grade dysplasia are associated with altered miRNA expression.
