ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: beta defensin antimicrobial peptides are important in epithelial innate immunity, and their differential expression is associated with periodontal diseases. The aims of this study were to determine the mRNA expression of human beta defensin-1 and -2 in the gingival tissue of patients with gingivitis, aggressive periodontitis and chronic periodontitis, and to evaluate the relationship between defensin expression and type and/or severity of periodontal destruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifteen patients in each group with gingivitis, aggressive periodontitis and chronic periodontitis, and 10 healthy subjects, were included in the study (n=55). The periodontal status of the subjects was determined by periodontal clinical measurements and radiographical evaluations. Transcriptional levels of human beta defensin-1 and -2 genes in gingival samples were assessed by using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction technique, and the data were evaluated statistically by the relative expression Software Tool 2 for groupwise comparisons. RESULTS: Expression of the human beta defensin-1 gene was lower in gingivitis and aggressive periodontitis groups, and significantly higher in the chronic periodontitis group, than in the control group (p<0.001). Human beta defensin-2 mRNA expression in the gingivitis group was lower than in the control group; however, the difference was statistically significant only in half of the gingivitis patients (p<0.001). Human beta defensin-2 mRNA levels were higher in some chronic periodontitis patients, but lower in the others when compared with the control group (p<0.001). Expression of the human beta defensin-2 gene increased in the aggressive periodontitis group relative to the control group. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that human beta defensin-1 and -2 genes in the gingival epithelium show differential expression in patients with specific periodontal diseases, and aggressive and chronic periodontitis types demonstrate different gingival beta defensin-1 and -2 expression patterns.
Subject(s)
Anti-Infective Agents/analysis , Gingiva/metabolism , Gingivitis/metabolism , Periodontitis/metabolism , beta-Defensins/analysis , Adult , Chronic Disease , Female , Gene Expression Regulation/genetics , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Periodontitis/classification , RNA, Messenger/analysis , Transcription, Genetic/genetics , beta-Defensins/geneticsABSTRACT
Although biological effects of electromagnetic fields were investigated intensively, there is still no agreement on the significance of their effects. The underlying mechanisms and therapeutic importance are still mostly unknown too. In this study, primary cultures of human dermal fibroblasts were exposed to magnetic field at nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) conditions for in total 5 days and 4 h/day. Among the investigated parameters were: cell proliferation rate, cell morphology, total protein concentration as well as content of skin-specific collagen types I, III, IV. NMR exposure induced distinct changes both in cellular and extracellular components. The extracellular matrix (ECM) of NMR-exposed cells had less cross-linked collagen. In particular, the increase of collagen of the soluble fraction was at 17.2 +/- 2.9% for type I, 27.0 +/- 1.86% for type III, 17.3 +/- 1.46% for type IV (N = 6). In the absence of resonance frequency, the effects of magnetic field on ECM were less profound.
Subject(s)
Collagen/metabolism , Cross-Linking Reagents/metabolism , Fibroblasts/metabolism , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/adverse effects , Body Water/metabolism , Cell Adhesion Molecules/analysis , Cell Proliferation , Cells, Cultured , Collagen/analysis , Cytoskeletal Proteins/analysis , Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Extracellular Matrix/metabolism , Humans , Isoelectric Focusing , ProteomeABSTRACT
Air purification by plasma-generated cluster ions (PCIs) relies on a novel technology producing hydrated positive and negative ions. Phenomenological tests have shown strong evidence of lethal effects of the PCIs on various micro-organisms. However, the mechanisms of PCI action are still widely unknown. The aim was thus to test the bactericidal efficacy of PCI technology on common indoor micro-organisms and to explore possible PCI mechanisms of action. According to time/dose-dependent experiments with Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Micrococcus and Bacillus, the inhibiting effects became apparent within the first few minutes of PCI exposure and led to an irreversible 99.9% destruction within the following 2-8 h of exposure. The destructive effect of the PCIs corresponded to membrane damage of the bacteria. Use of the techniques of both SDS PAGE and 2D PAGE revealed changes in the bacterial surface protein composition induced by the PCIs. In contrast, neither DNA nor cytoplasm protein damage was detected electrophoretically. The antimicrobial action of the PCIs seems to occur because of chemical modification of the surface proteins of bacteria. In situ hydroxyl radical formation on the surface of bacteria was proposed as the leading mechanism of the protein damage caused by the PCIs. At the same time, DNA damage seems not to be involved in the antibacterial action of the PCIs. The data obtained would broaden the knowledge concerning the antibacterial effects of air-born plasma-generated cluster ions and help to produce more efficient air-cleaning devices.
