Angiogenesis in Periodontal Disease

Inonu University114 enrolled

Overview

Gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis) is a common inflammatory condition affecting the tissues that support the teeth. Smoking is known to make gum disease worse and to affect blood vessel health in the gums. This study looks at two proteins, KLF2 and FBXW7, which are involved in blood vessel formation, to understand their role in gum disease and whether smoking changes their levels. Researchers measured these proteins, along with two other markers of inflammation and blood vessel activity (VEGF and NF-κB), in fluid collected from around the teeth and in saliva from healthy adults who were either smokers or non-smokers, with healthy gums, gingivitis, or periodontitis. The goal is to better understand how smoking and gum disease affect blood vessel-related proteins in the mouth.

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is considered an early host response involved in the progression of periodontal disease. KLF2 is a transcription factor that negatively regulates angiogenesis and endothelial activation, while FBXW7 contributes to vascular development and has been reported to modulate KLF2 expression. Smoking is a major modifiable risk factor for periodontal disease and is known to affect periodontal vascularity, although the underlying molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This study evaluates the potential involvement of KLF2 and FBXW7, alongside the established angiogenic and inflammatory mediators VEGF and NF-κB, in periodontal disease pathogenesis, and examines whether smoking modifies their expression in gingival crevicular fluid and saliva.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

114

Conditions

Gingivitis

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: Inclusion criteria for the Healthy Control group: * presence of ≥ 20 teeth in the mouth * probing pocket depth (PPD) ≤ 3 mm * the percentage of bleeding sites for the whole mouth \< 10%, * on radiographic examination, a distance of ≤ 3 mm between the cemento-enamel junction and the alveolar bone crest in 95% of all teeth. Inclusion criteria for the Gingivitis group were * presence of ≥ 20 teeth in the mouth * PPD ≤ 3 mm, -% of bleeding sites for the whole mouth ≥ 10%, * on radiographic examination, a distance of ≤ 3 mm between the cemento-enamel junction and the alveolar bone crest in 95% of all teeth. Inclusion criteria for the Stage 3 Periodontitis group * presence of ≥ 15 teeth in the mouth * more than 30% of teeth affected by periodontal disease * affected teeth exhibiting probing depths of 6 mm or more * clinical attachment loss (CAL) of ≥ 5 mm, * vertical bone loss of 3 mm or more * class 2 or 3 furcation involvement * radiographic evidence of alveolar bone loss extending to the middle third and beyond (33%) in the relevant teeth Exclusion Criteria: * presence of any systemic disease * regular use of any medication * pregnancy or lactation * periodontal treatment within the last 6 months * antibiotic use within the last 6 months * the presence of prosthetic restorations on the teeth to be sampled

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

GCF and Salivary VEGF, NF-κB, KLF2, and FBXW7 Protein Levels

Total amounts and concentrations of VEGF, NF-κB, KLF2, and FBXW7 were measured by ELISA in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and unstimulated whole saliva samples, and compared across participants with periodontal health, gingivitis, and periodontitis, in both smokers and non-smokers.

Time frame: March to September 2024