Our results showed higher levels of IL-12 in gingival tissue and serum of patients with aggressive periodontitis, and IL-18 was elevated in the serum of CP patients. The patterns of IL-12 and IL-18 are different in chronic and aggressive periodontitis; this finding suggests distinctive mechanisms of immunopathogenesis between these forms of periodontitis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of alcohol-containing mouthwash on the induction of micronuclei and nuclear anomalies in exfoliated buccal cells, including binucleated cells, cells with nuclear buds, and karyolitic, karyorrhectic, condensed chromatin, and pyknotic cells. Buccal mucosa cells were collected from 107 healthy participants who were divided into three groups: control subjects who did not use mouthwash (n = 33), subjects who were exposed for 30 days and two times rinsing with 30 seconds each time to alcohol-containing mouthwash (n = 38; 26% ethanol concentration); and subjects exposed to a non-alcohol-containing mouthwash (n = 36). A slide was used to collect cells from the oral mucosa from the inner lining of both cheeks. Samples were spread directly onto two separate, precleaned and precoded slides. Smears were air-dried, fixed, stained, and analyzed by microscopy for micronuclei and nuclear anomalies. Frequency of micronuclei, nuclear buds, and karyolitic, karyorrhectic, and condensed chromatin cells increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the alcohol-containing mouthwash group after mouthwash exposition, compared with both the control and the non-alcohol-containing mouthwash groups. Our results suggest that subjects exposed to alcohol-containing mouthwash exhibited an increase in frequency of micronuclei and nuclear anomalies in oral mucosal cells, which is directly related to DNA damage.

Chronic periodontitis (CP) is characterized by gingival inflammation and bone destruction. It has been reported that interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels are high in CP patients; however, the IFN-γ receptor (IFN-γR) has not been studied in gingival tissue from these patients.Objective:To evaluate IFN-γ levels and IFN-γR expression in gingival tissue biopsies from chronic periodontitis patients compared with healthy subjects (HS).Material and Methods:Gingival tissues were obtained from all study subjects, CP (n = 18) and healthy subjects (HS) (n = 12). A tissue section of each study subject was embedded in paraffin blocks to determine the expression of IFN-γ R (IFN-γR1 and IFN-γR2) through immunohistochemistry. Another section of the tissue was homogenized and IFN-γ was measured by the ELISA technique.Results:No significant differences were found in the IFN-γR1 expression within the cell layers of the gingival tissue of the study groups. When analyzing the IFN-γR2 expression it was found that IFN-γR2 is strongly expressed in the endothelial cells of CP patients when compared to HS (p<0.05). IFN-γ concentrations in the gingival tissue were significantly higher in CP patients than in HS. No significant correlation between IFN-γ levels and the expression of IFN-γR1 and IFN-γR2 was found. However, a positive correlation between IFN-γ levels and clinical parameters [probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL)] was found.Conclusion:The study of IFN-γR expression in gingival tissue samples from patients with CP showed an increase only in the IFN-γR2 chain in endothelial cells when compared to HS.

Revisión bibliogRáfica RESUMEN La cavidad oral proporciona un entorno cálido y húmedo que hace a la flora bucal normal extremadamente compleja y propicia para la colonización por hongos, virus y bacterias, requiriendo múltiples tipos de defensas para prevenir infecciones. Los péptidos antimicrobianos son importantes contribuyentes para mantener el equilibrio entre la salud y la enfermedad, éstos realizan varias funciones esenciales para la defensa contra los microorganismos, lo que modifica la respuesta inflamatoria local y activa mecanismos de reacción inmunitaria adaptativa, participando de esta manera en la modulación de la respuesta inmunológica, que otorga especificidad funcional y los clasifica en diferentes familias, una de ellas las defensinas. En el presente reporte se hace una revisión de la función y expresión de las defensinas y su relación con la cavidad oral.

Introducción. La periodontitis es una enfermedad inflamatoria que afecta los tejidos de soporte dental; los efectos del exceso de óxido nítrico pueden contribuir a los síntomas de la periodontitis.Objetivo. Determinar la concentración de óxido nítrico en el suero de los pacientes con periodontitis agresiva y crónica generalizada, y compararla con la de individuos sanos de población mexicana.Materiales y métodos. Se trata de un estudio de casos y controles. Se incluyeron 69 individuos de la Clínica de Posgrado de Periodoncia del Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud de la Universidad de Guadalajara. Se dividieron en tres grupos: pacientes con periodontitis crónica generalizada (GCP, n=19), pacientes con periodontitis agresiva generalizada (GAP, n=11) e individuos sanos periodontalmente (HS, n=39). Se obtuvo el consentimiento informado de todos los participantes. Se utililizó la prueba ELISA para medir la concentración de óxido nítrico en suero.Resultados. Las concentraciones de óxido nítrico observadas fueron mayores en el grupo GCP (462,57 ± 16,57 μmol/L) que en los grupos GAP (433,84 ± 18,61 μmol/L) y HS(422,46 ± 12,07 μmol/L). La comparación entre HS y GCP mediante la prueba estadística t de Student (una cola), mostró diferencias significativas (p<0,04), y no se observaron diferencias entre los grupos HS y GAP (p=0,64), ni entre GAP y GCP (p=0,33). Conclusiones. La concentración de óxido nítrico en suero, observada en el presente estudio, sugiere que el óxido nítrico desempeña un importante papel en el procesoinflamatorio, lo que no necesariamente está ligado a la gravedad de la enfermedad ni a la destrucción del tejido periodontal.