Analysis of Salivary Levels of IL-1ß, IL17A, OPG and RANK-L in Periodontitis Using the 2017 Classification of Periodontal Diseases-An Exploratory Observational Study.

Periodontitis is a chronic disease with a high overall prevalence. It involves a complex interplay between the immune-inflammatory pathways and biofilm changes, leading to periodontal attachment loss. The aims of this study were (i) to assess whether the salivary IL-1ß, IL-17A, RANK-L and OPG levels have the potential to discriminate between the mild and severe periodontitis conditions; and (ii) to enable diagnostic/prognostic actions to differentiate between distinct levels of the disease. The analysis of the clinical parameters and the evaluation of the salivary immunomediators levels by means of a multiplex flow assay revealed a statistically significantly higher level of IL-1ß in the periodontitis III/IV patients, as well as a higher level of RANK-L in the periodontitis III/IV and I/II patients, when compared to the healthy controls. Furthermore, the grade C periodontitis patients presented a significantly higher level of RANK-L compared to the grade B and grade A patients. In the grade C patients, IL-1ß had a positive correlation with the PPD and CAL indices and RANK_L had a positive correlation with CAL. The evidence emerging from this study associates the salivary IL-1ß and RANK-L levels with an advanced stage of periodontitis, stage III/IV, and with grade C, suggesting the possible cooperative action of both in the inflammatory and bone loss events. In addition to IL-1ß, RANK-L could be considered a combined diagnostic biomarker for periodontitis.

Biological and genetic characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis isolates from five hydrographical basins in northern Portugal.

To understand the situation of water contamination with Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in the northern region of Portugal, we have established a long-term program aimed at pinpointing the sources of surface water and environmental contamination, working with the water-supply industry. Here, we describe the results obtained with raw water samples collected in rivers of the 5 hydrographical basins. A total of 283 samples were analyzed using the Method 1623 EPA, USA. Genetic characterization was performed by PCR and sequencing of genes 18S rRNA of Cryptosporidium spp. and beta-giardin of Giardia spp. Infectious stages of the protozoa were detected in 72.8% (206 of 283) of the water samples, with 15.2% (43 of 283) positive for Giardia duodenalis cysts, 9.5% (27 of 283) positive for Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts, and 48.1% (136 of 283) samples positive for both parasites. The most common zoonotic species found were G. duodenalis assemblages A-I, A-II, B, and E genotypes, and Cryptosporidium parvum, Cryptosporidium andersoni, Cryptosporidium hominis, and Cryptosporidium muris. These results suggest that cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis are important public health issues in northern Portugal. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report evaluating the concentration of environmental stages of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in raw water samples in the northern region of Portugal.

IL-10 leads to a higher parasite persistence in a resistant mouse model of Leishmania major infection.

IL-10 is a cytokine secreted by a wide variety of cell types and has pleiotropic activities, mainly as a modulator of the immune response. In this study, we tested in a direct way the influence of IL-10 expression on Leishmania major infection in resistant mice. We report that C57BL/6 mice treated with a single inoculation of recombinant adenovirus vector-expressing viral IL-10 (Ad-vIL-10), 1 day before parasitic challenge, exhibited a dual effect on footpad swelling, characterized by a decrease on lesion size at the early stage of the infection, followed by a rapid increase of these lesions that attained the complete healing later in infection. The reduction in lesion swelling in vIL-10 treated mice was accompanied by a decrease cellular infiltration of lymphocytes and monocytes at the site of parasite inoculation. Most significantly, vIL-10 administration led to a higher parasite burden in the draining popliteal lymph nodes late during infection, when the complete healing of the lesions was already achieved. RT-PCR analysis showed no important modification of cytokine transcripts in vIL-10 treated mice, early in infection, indicating no changes in mouse phenotype from resistant to susceptible status. Therefore, IL-10 administration influenced the outcome of the disease by modifying the inflammation and local cell recruitment at the site of parasite penetration and by leading to an enhanced residual parasite load in popliteal lymph nodes later in infection. The implication of IL-10 on the host immune status and the establishment and outcome of the infection is discussed.