Activation of the TREM‐1 pathway in human monocytes by periodontal pathogens and oral commensal bacteria

Periodontitis is a highly prevalent disease caused in part by an aberrant host response to the oral multi‐species biofilm. A balance between the oral bacteria and host immunity is essential for oral health. Imbalances in the oral microbiome lead to an uncontrolled host inflammatory response and subsequent periodontal disease (i.e. gingivitis and periodontitis). TREM‐1 is a signaling receptor present on myeloid cells capable of acting synergistically with other pattern recognition receptors leading to amplification of inflammatory responses. The aim of this study was to investigate the activation of the TREM‐1 pathway in the human monocyte‐like cell line THP‐1 exposed to both oral pathogens and commensals. The relative expression of the genes encoding TREM‐1 and its adapter protein DAP12 were determined by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. The surface expression of TREM‐1 was determined by flow cytometry. Soluble TREM‐1 and cytokines were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The results demonstrate that both commensal and pathogenic oral bacteria activate the TREM‐1 pathway, resulting in a proinflammatory TREM‐1 activity‐dependent increase in proinflammatory cytokine production.     

Significance of elevated gingival crevicular fluid tumor necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐8 levels in chronic hemodialysis patients with periodontal disease

Da? A, F?rat ET, Kadiro?lu AK, Kale E, Y?lmaz ME. Significance of elevated gingival crevicular fluid tumor necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐8 levels in chronic hemodialysis patients with periodontal disease. J Periodont Res 2010; 45: 445–450. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Background and Objective: The prevalence of chronic renal disease in industrialized countries is increasing, and chronic renal disease and periodontitis can have significant, reciprocal effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between specific clinical parameters and the levels of tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) in the gingival crevicular fluid of hemodialysis (HD) patients with periodontal disease. Material and Methods: Forty‐three HD patients and 43 systemically healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI) and pocket depth were used to determine periodontal status. Venous blood samples were obtained from each patient in the morning before the dialysis session and analyzed to determine the levels of inflammatory, biochemical and hematological parameters. Gingival crevicular fluid was collected from all subjects, and the levels of TNF‐α and IL‐8 were determined in the gingival crevicular fluid samples. Results: The following results were obtained from HD patients and controls: TNF‐α (pg/mL), 31.40 ± 1.46 and 3.06 ± 0.15 (p < 0.001); IL‐8 (pg/mL), 90.98 ± 94.03 and 35.05 ± 16.86 (p < 0.001); PI, 1.69 ± 1.02 and 0.04 ± 0.02 (p < 0.001); GI, 0.82 ± 0.06 and 0.04 ± 0.02 (p < 0.001); and pocket depth, 2.23 ± 0.63 and 1.51 ± 0.05 (p < 0.001), respectively. In addition, there were positive correlations between TNF‐α and PI (r = 0.642, p < 0.001), between TNF‐α and GI (r = 0.565, p < 0.001), between TNF‐α and pocket depth (r = 0.522, p < 0.001), between IL‐8 and PI (r = 0.402, p = 0.002), between IL‐8 and GI (r = 0.396, p = 0.002), and between IL‐8 and pocket depth (r = 0.326, p = 0.012). There were negative correlations between albumin and PI (r = ?0.491, p < 0.001), albumin and GI (r = ?0.406, p < 0.001), albumin and pocket depth (r = ?0.464, p < 0.001) and albumin and CRP (r = ?0.467, p = 0.002) and between the gingival crevicular fluid levels of TNF‐α and IL‐8, TNF‐α and hemoglobin (r = ?0.745, p < 0.001; r = ?0.285, p < 0.05) (respectively). Conclusion: The levels of TNF‐α and IL‐8 in gingival crevicular fluid were significantly higher in HD patients than in controls. There were strong, positive correlations between clinical periodontal parameters and the levels of inflammatory cytokines in gingival crevicular fluid from the HD patients.