EBV-1 and HCMV in aggressive periodontitis in Brazilian patients

The purpose of the present investigation was to compare the presence of Epstein-Barr virus type 1 (EBV-1) and of Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in crevicular fluid samples from deep and shallow periodontal pocket sites of Brazilian patients with aggressive periodontitis. A total of 30 systemically healthy patients with aggressive periodontitis participated in the study. Paper points were inserted into 2 gingivitis sites (<3 mm) and into 2 periodontitis sites (>5 mm) in each patient. PCR assay was used to identify genomic copies of HCMV and EBV-1. Twenty-three patients (77%) were positive for EBV-1, while only 2 patients (6%) were positive for HCMV. The McNemar test revealed a positive association between EBV-1 and periodontal lesions (p=0.043). Thirty-four (57%) out of 60 periodontitis sites were positive for EBV-1, whereas 18 (30%) gingivitis sites were positive (p=0.01). Only two sites (6.7%) were positive for HCMV. No positive association was found between HCMV and periodontitis or gingivitis (p=0.479). The elevated occurrence of EBV-1 DNA in periodontal pockets of patients with aggressive periodontitis supports a possible periodontopathic role of this virus.     

Helicobacter pylori in the oral mucosa of patients submitted to allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

This study was designed to investigate the impact of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) on Helicobacter pylori colonization of the oral mucosa by nested polymerase chain reaction (nested-PCR). Forty six consecutive patients submitted to HSCT and 46 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Oral swabs were taken from the oral mucosa of the patients and control group. The medical records of the patients were reviewed and the following information was retrieved: gender and age of the patient, donor gender, primary disease, stem cell source (bone marrow or blood stem cells), leukocyte, neutrophil and platelet counts, and chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) of salivary glands. The results demonstrated an increased frequency of H. pylori in the oral mucosa of HSCT patients compared to controls (rho = 0.002). The presence of H. pylori in the oral mucosa was not related to the severity of cGVHD. The median counts of platelet/mm3, leukocytes/mm3 and neutrophils/mm3 in the group of HSCT patients positive for H. pylori were not statistically different from those of the patients negative for it. In conclusion, the present study shows increased frequency of H. pylori in the oral mucosa of HSCT patients compared to non-transplanted healthy volunteers.     

Interleukin-1beta and serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms in burning mouth syndrome patients.

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic pain syndrome that encompasses all forms of burning sensations in the oral cavity when the oral mucosa is clinically normal. Neural, psychologic, and cytokine factors may be implicated in the pathogenesis of BMS. There are no studies of genetic factors associated with psychologic behavior and cytokine pain sensitivity in BMS patients. The purpose of the present study was to investigate a possible association between functional genetic polymorphisms, +3,954 (C/T) interleukin-1beta, and the polymorphic site on promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) in a sample of Brazilian patients. Thirty patients affected by BMS and 31 healthy volunteers were genotyped for 5-HTTLPR and IL-1beta gene. The chi-squared test was used for statistical analysis. There was no statistical difference in 5-HTTLPR genotypes between the case and control groups (P = .60), however a significant increase was observed in the IL-1beta high production genotype CT in BMS subjects (P = .005). In conclusion, the present study shows association between BMS and IL-1beta high producer genotype. PERSPECTIVE: This article shows evidence that genetic polymorphisms associated with IL-1beta high production genotype are implicated on the pathogenesis of BMS. The modulation of IL1beta production may be an interesting tool in BMS management.     

Expression Pattern and Immunoregulatory Roles of Galectin-1 and Galectin-3 in Atopic Dermatitis and Psoriasis

Inflammation - The pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis (Ps) overlaps, particularly the activation of the immune response and tissue damage. Here, we evaluated galectin (Gal)-1 and...     

Investigation of functional gene polymorphisms: IL-1B, IL-6 and TNFA in benign migratory glossitis in Brazilian individuals

BACKGROUND: Benign migratory glossitis (BMG) is a very common immunological oral disease of unknown aetiology. METHODS AND SUBJECTS: Fifty-three consecutive subjects affected by BMG and 53 age- and sex-matched control subjects were genotyped for IL-1B, IL-6 and TNFA polymorphisms. Binary logistic regression models were fitted and values of P < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: A significant difference in the distribution of IL-1B genotypes was observed in the group with BMG in univariate analyses (P = 0.01). The multivariate analyses showed that the CT genotype of the IL1-B gene was significantly associated with a high risk to develop BMG (P = 0.02, OR 2.76). The combined presence of IL-1beta high and intermediate producers genotypes was also associated with BMG in multivariate analyses (P = 0.01, OR 3.05). IL-6 and TNFA polymorphisms were not associated with BMG in the univariate and multivariate analyses. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that the polymorphism +3954 IL-1B is associated with an increased risk of BMG development and suggest a genetic basis for disease development.     

Association of interleukin-1beta polymorphism with recurrent aphthous stomatitis in Brazilian individuals

BACKGROUND: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is characterized by recurrent episodes of oral ulceration in an otherwise healthy individual. Some reports in the literature indicate that RAS may have immunological, psychological, genetic and microbiological bases. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the possible association between interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) +3954 (C/T) genetic polymorphism and RAS in a sample of Brazilian patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty-two consecutive subjects affected by minor and major forms of RAS and 62 healthy volunteers were genotyped at IL-1beta (+3954). The chi-squared test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A significant increase in the high production of IL-1beta genotype CT was observed in the group with RAS (P = 0.01). After stratifying RAS patients according to the mean number of lesions per episode, a significant difference was only observed between patients with >or=3 lesions in each episode and control. CONCLUSION: There is an increased frequency of polymorphism associated with high IL-1beta production in RAS patients.     

Cytomegalovirus shedding in the oral cavity of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant patients

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the effect of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) on cytomegalovirus (CMV) shedding in the saliva by nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR) and its impact on patient survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty-four HSCT patients and 124 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Oral swabs were taken before, after 100 days and 1 year of HSCT at the buccal mucosa. Nested PCR was used to detect CMV in the saliva. Time of death after HSCT was displayed, by means of the Kaplan-Meier method, for the following parameters: age and gender of the patient, donor gender, primary disease, stem cell source, platelet number, chronic graft vs host disease (cGVHD) of salivary glands and oral mucosa, and oral CMV shedding. Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate survival analysis. RESULTS: While none of the individuals in the control group showed positive swabs for CMV, the frequency of positive CMV oral swabs in patients at day + 100 after HSCT (45.2%) was statistically higher than before (7.2%) and 1 year after HSCT (17.5%). The presence of CMV was not associated with cGVHD and did not have any impact on post-transplant survival. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that oral CMV shedding occurs after HSCT, especially at day +100 post-transplant. Identification of CMV in the saliva might be important for the early diagnosis of CMV infection in allo-HSTC.