[Periodontitis is one of the most commonly occurring inflammatory diseases].

Periodontitis is a common inflammatory disease characterized by breakdown of the structure supporting the tooth. The disease, which is caused by bacteria colonizing the root surface, occurs with a marked difference in individual susceptibility and presents as chronic and aggressive forms of the disease. A number of medical disorders act as predisposing factors, and periodontitis may influence the course of some diseases, including coronary heart disease and diabetes.

Aggressive periodontitis and chronic arthritis: blood mononuclear cell gene expression and plasma protein levels of cytokines and cytokine inhibitors.

Background: Cytokines and cytokine inhibitors have been associated with many immunoinflammatory diseases. In the present study, we examined whether peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) gene expression mirrors the corresponding plasma levels of clinically important pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and cytokine receptors in patients with periodontitis and patients with arthritis representing two examples of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as periodontitis and arthritis. To identify possible disease-specific characteristics of subjects with periodontitis relative to subjects with chronic inflammation in general, patients with arthritis (juvenile idiopathic arthritis [JIA] and rheumatoid arthritis [RA]) were included.

Blood cell gene expression profiling in subjects with aggressive periodontitis and chronic arthritis.

Background: Microarray analysis of local and peripheral cells in subjects with immune-inflammatory diseases may identify candidate genes associated with these diseases. The present study identified differentially expressed genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from subjects with untreated localized aggressive periodontitis (LAgP) or generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP). Differentially expressed genes were validated in groups of subjects with LAgP, GAgP, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and controls.

Matrix metalloproteinases.

Matrix metalloproteinases are a class of enzymes that play an important role in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix in development and cancer metastasis. This unit describes a set of methods-cell-mediated dissolution of type I collagen fibrils, direct and reverse zymography, enzyme capture based on a-2 macroglubulin and TIMP-1 and -2, and demonstration of crytic thiol groups in metalloproteinase precursors-that are used to characterize the functions of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors.

Polymorphisms within the IL-1 gene cluster: effects on cytokine profiles in peripheral blood and whole blood cell cultures of patients with aggressive periodontitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Genetic polymorphisms of cytokines have been associated with the susceptibility, severity, and clinical outcome of inflammatory diseases, such as periodontitis and chronic arthritis. An important question to address is how interleukin (IL)-1 polymorphisms affect the cytokine profiles of patients with such diseases.

Methods: The study population consisted of Danish white adults, <35 years of age, who were diagnosed with localized aggressive periodontitis (LAgP, n = 18), generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP, n = 27), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA, n = 10), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA, n = 23) and healthy individuals with no systemic or oral diseases (n = 25).

Periodontal and hematological characteristics associated with aggressive periodontitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Periodontitis shares several clinical and pathogenic characteristics with chronic arthritis, and there is some degree of coexistence. The aims of this study were to elucidate whether patients with localized aggressive periodontitis (LAgP), generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) share periodontal and hematological characteristics distinguishing them from individuals free of diseases.

Methods: The study population consisted of white adults ( View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cytokine profiles in peripheral blood and whole blood cell cultures associated with aggressive periodontitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Cytokines play a key role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. An obvious question is whether patients with aggressive periodontitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis share blood cytokine profiles distinguishing them from individuals free of disease.

Methods: The study population consisted of Danish white adults, <35 years of age, diagnosed with localized aggressive periodontitis (LAgP; N = 18), generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP; N = 27), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA; N = 10), or rheumatoid arthritis (RA; N = 23) and healthy individuals with no systemic or oral diseases (control [CTRL]; N = 25).

Influence of the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor batimastat (BB-94) on periodontal bone destruction in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes capable of degrading most macromolecules of the extracellular matrix. It has been assumed that an association exists between MMP activity and periodontal disease progression, but the precise role of MMPs in disease progression is still not fully clarified. Batimastat, or BB-94, is a synthetic broad-spectrum MMP inhibitor not previously examined in periodontal research.

The influence of diet consistence, drinking water and bedding on periodontal disease in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Background: Although rats have been extensively used in periodontal research, pre-experimental periodontal inspection has not been given high priority in previous studies of experimental periodontal disease in rats. An inspection of 50 Sprague-Dawley rats, which were to be used in a model of experimental periodontal disease, revealed signs of periodontal disease in a considerable proportion of the animals.

Objectives: The objectives of the present study were to describe disease progression, identify factors responsible for induction of periodontal disease and test a method for breeding of healthy rats.

Oral infections and systemic diseases.

An association between periodontal infection and CVD has been revealed in some epidemiologic studies, whereas other studies were unable to demonstrate such an association. A link between the two diseases may be explained by shared established or nonestablished risk factors. Future studies with extended control of confounding factors and intervention studies may add to the understanding of a possible relationship between the diseases.