Evaluation of the role of mitofusin-1 and mitofusin-2 in periodontal disease.

BACKGROUND: Mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum are key cellular organelles and create contact sites (mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum contact [MERC]), which plays a major role in calcium metabolism, apoptotic processes, and inflammation. Previously, proteins that have been associated with these MERC contact sites mitofusin-1 (MFN1) and mitofusin-2 (MFN2) have been found to be downregulated in periodontal disease in vitro. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to evaluate MFN1 and MFN2 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with periodontal disease compared with healthy controls clinically. METHODS: A total of 48 participants were divided into three groups including periodontally healthy (n = 16), patients with gingivitis (n = 16), and patients with stage 3 grade B periodontitis (n = 16). GCF levels of MFN1, MFN2, calcium (Ca), caspase-1, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results were calculated as total amount and concentration. RESULTS: MFN1 levels (total amount) were significantly higher in patients with periodontitis and gingivitis when compared with healthy controls (p < 0.05). However, concentration levels of MFN1, MFN2, Ca, caspase-1, TNF-α significantly decreased in periodontal disease groups compared with healthy controls (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was detected among all evaluated markers (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The MERC protein MFN1 may have a role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease due to its increase in GCF of patients with periodontitis and gingivitis.

Impact of periodontal status on the oral mucositis in patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: Oral mucositis (OM) is a frequent complication of cancer treatments. Oral mucositis and periodontal disease have a common inflammatory pattern. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the OM and its association with periodontal status in patients with hematologic malignancies who undergo high-dose chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five patients who received high-dose chemotherapy were included in the study. Full-mouth periodontal clinical measurements including plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), clinical attachment level (CAL), and probing depth (PD) values were recorded before the condition chemotherapy regime. OM monitoring was initiated 1 day after the chemotherapy and maintained for 20 days. RESULTS: Twenty-two of patients (40%) were observed oral mucositis after high-dose chemotherapy. Patients with mucositis had significantly higher GI scores than those who did not have mucositis (p < 0.05). There was a significantly moderate positive correlation between the grade of mucositis and GI scores (p < 0.05). In patients with periodontitis, the incidence of grade 1-2 mucositis was significantly higher than in the healthy group (p < 0.05). In individuals with periodontitis and gingivitis, the healing duration of mucositis was significantly longer than the healthy group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that the severity grades of oral mucositis may increase in patients with gingival inflammation. The results also suggest that periodontal diseases may have a significant impact on the duration of oral mucositis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The current study contributes to our understanding of the importance of oral health status in reducing the occurrence, severity, and duration of OM in hematological cancer patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy.