Expression of human caspase-4 in the gingival epithelium affected with periodontitis: Its involvement in Porphyromonas gingivalis-challenged gingival epithelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: Implication of human caspase-4 in periodontitis and in sensing periodontal pathogens by gingival epithelial cells (GECs) is unclear. This study aimed to determine caspase-4 and interleukin (IL)-18 expressions in gingival tissues affected with periodontitis and to investigate caspase-4 involvement in mediating innate immune responses in GECs. DESIGN: Ex vivo, caspase-4 and IL-18 expressions in gingival biopsies, obtained from healthy participants with periodontitis or clinically healthy gingiva (N = 20 each), were determined by immunohistochemistry. In vitro, caspase-4 activation in cultured GECs stimulated with Porphyromonas gingivalis or Fusobacterium nucleatum was analyzed by immunoblotting. mRNA expressions of human ß-defensin-2 (hBD-2), IL-8, and IL-18 in stimulated GECs in the presence or absence of a caspase-4 inhibitor were assayed by RT-qPCR. RESULTS: Ex vivo, compared with healthy gingival epithelium, the epithelium affected with periodontitis displayed a significant decrease in caspase-4 expression (P = 0.015), whereas IL-18 expression was significantly increased (P = 0.012). Moreover, the expression of caspase-4, but not IL-18, was found to be a predictor of periodontitis (P = 0.007). In vitro, caspase-4 was activated in cultured GECs challenged with P. gingivalis, but not F. nucleatum. mRNA upregulations of hBD-2, IL-8, and IL-18 upon P. gingivalis stimulation were significantly reduced when caspase-4 was inhibited (P < 0.05), whereas the inhibitor failed to suppress those inductions by F. nucleatum. CONCLUSIONS: Caspase-4 expression is diminished in the epithelium affected with periodontitis while that of IL-18 is enhanced. Caspase-4 activation in P. gingivalis-infected GECs upregulates the three innate immune effector molecules, suggesting a possible sensing mechanism of caspase-4 in GECs in periodontal disease pathogenesis.

Mandibular premolar transplantation to replace missing maxillary anterior teeth: A multidisciplinary approach.

One of the most challenging problems for orthodontists is that of multiple missing maxillary teeth in a growing patient. In many patients, a good treatment option is autotransplantation. This case report describes the multidisciplinary treatment of an 11-year-old girl with regional odontodysplasia affecting the maxillary right and left central incisors, and congenitally missing maxillary left lateral incisor and canine. Autotransplantation of the mandibular second premolars to the affected area was combined with orthodontic space closure, and the transplanted premolars were reshaped and restored with a resin composite to be in line with the left central and lateral incisors. After completion of the orthodontic treatment, gingivectomy was performed to obtain an even gingival contour and symmetrical gingival tissue. Space closure of the maxillary anterior teeth was achieved. Autotransplantation enabled the patient to retain her natural teeth rather than having a prosthesis or dental implant. The autotransplanted tooth allows for alveolar bone growth in synchrony with neighboring teeth and the formation of normal interdental papilla while adapting to functional stimuli and confers a high survival rate in the long term.

Association between periodontitis and spontaneous abortion: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage, is a complication of pregnancy which can severely affect women both physically and psychologically. We investigated the associations of periodontitis and periodontopathic bacteria with spontaneous abortion. METHODS: We conducted a matched case-control study in two tertiary hospitals in Khon Kaen, Thailand. Cases were 85 women with spontaneous abortion at <20 weeks of gestation matched to 85 controls on age, gestational age, and hospital. Full-mouth periodontal examinations were performed. Periodontitis was defined as at least one site with probing depth ≥5 mm and clinical attachment level ≥2 mm at the same site. Subgingival plaque samples were collected to determine the levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Fusobacterium nucleatum using real time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The cases were significantly more likely to have periodontitis (50.6%) than the controls (21.2%; P = 0.007). Conditional logistic regression revealed a crude odds ratio (OR) of 4.1 for the association between periodontitis and spontaneous abortion (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.9-8.9, P = 0.001). The OR decreased, but was still significant, after controlling for previous miscarriage (OR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.4-7.8, P = 0.006). There was no significant association between the levels of periodontopathic bacteria and spontaneous abortion. Increased levels of P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum were associated with periodontitis in both case and control groups. Association between increased T. forsythia levels and periodontitis was observed only in the case women. CONCLUSIONS: Periodontitis was more common in women with spontaneous abortions as compared with matched controls. Levels of periodontopathic bacteria was not associated with spontaneous abortion in this population.

Killing activity of LFchimera on periodontopathic bacteria and multispecies oral biofilm formation in vitro.

Lactoferrin chimera (LFchimera), a heterodimeric peptide containing lactoferrampin (LFampin265-284) and a part of lactoferricin (LFcin17-30), possesses a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. However, there is no report on the inhibitory effects of LFchimera against multispecies oral biofilms. This study aimed to determine the effects of LFchimera in comparison to chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) and minocycline hydrochloride (MH), on in vitro multispecies biofilms derived from subgingival plaque of periodontitis patients harboring Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. First the effects of LFchimera against planktonic and an 1-day old biofilm of the periodontopathic bacteria, A. actinomycetemcomitans ATCC 43718 were established. Then, the effects on biofilm formation and bacterial viability in the multispecies biofilm were determined by crystal violet staining and LIVE/DEAD BacLight Bacterial Viability kit, respectively. The results revealed that a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in biofilm formation occurred after 15 min exposure to 20 µM of LFchimera or CHX compared to control. In contrast, MH at concentration up to 100 µM did not inhibit biofilm formation. The ratio of live/dead bacteria in biofilm was also significantly lower after 15 min exposure to 20 µM of LFchimera compared to control and 20-50 µM of CHX and MH. Altogether, the results obtained indicate that LFchimera is able to inhibit in vitro subgingival biofilm formation and reduce viability of multispecies bacteria in biofilm better than CHX and MH.

Periodontitis and gestational diabetes mellitus in non-smoking females.

BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Periodontal disease is associated with increased levels of inflammatory mediators and may be a risk factor for GDM. The authors aimed to examine the association between periodontitis and GDM among non-smoking pregnant females. METHODS: This case-control study included 50 females who were diagnosed with GDM and 50 age- and hospital-matched females without diabetes in Khon Kaen, Thailand. Full-mouth periodontal examinations were performed during pregnancy by two calibrated dentists who were unaware of the case-control status. Periodontitis was defined as ≥1 site with probing depth (PD) ≥5 mm and clinical attachment level (CAL) ≥2 mm at the same site. Serum samples were collected to measure C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 levels. Analyses were performed using conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: Fifty percent of the case females had periodontitis compared to 26% of the controls. Females with GDM had significantly higher mean PD and CAL, more sites with bleeding on probing, and increased levels of CRP compared to the controls. Periodontitis was significantly associated with GDM (odds ratio = 3.00, 95% confidence interval = 1.19 to 7.56). The association remained significant with additional adjustment for family history of diabetes, prepregnancy body mass index, and weight gain during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that periodontitis is associated with GDM. Therefore, clinicians should assess periodontal conditions of pregnant females.

Alanine aminopeptidase and dipeptidyl peptidase IV in saliva of chronic periodontitis patients.

BACKGROUND: Alanine aminopeptidase (ALAP) and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) are ectopeptidases that play a role in collagen degradation and are thought to be involved in the destruction of periodontal tissue. This study compared the activities of salivary ALAP and DPPIV in patients with periodontitis and periodontally healthy subjects. The correlations of enzyme activities with clinical variables and the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis were also evaluated. METHODS: Whole saliva was collected from 30 periodontally healthy subjects, 30 localized chronic periodontitis (LCP) patients, and 30 generalized chronic periodontitis (GCP) patients to determine the activities of ALAP and DPPIV. The presence of P. gingivalis in subgingival plaque was detected by polymerase chain reaction. Periodontal clinical assessments included probing depth, clinical attachment level, and bleeding on probing. RESULTS: The activities of DPPIV in the LCP and GCP groups were not significantly different from one another, but both groups had significantly higher enzyme activities than the periodontally healthy group (P = 0.001). DPPIV activity was positively correlated with all clinical parameters and the prevalence of P. gingivalis. The ALAP activities were not significantly different among the three study groups. There was no significant correlation of ALAP activity with any of the clinical and bacterial parameters. CONCLUSION: DPPIV, but not ALAP, activity is associated with periodontitis and the presence of P. gingivalis.