Cytokines in Serum and GCF of CHD and Periodontal Patients

Objective: Oral inflammation maybe a risk factor of coronary heart disease (CHD). Cytokines are important cell signaling proteins, mediating a wide range of physiological responses. The objective of this study was to investigate four cytokines interleukin-1b (IL-1b), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in serum and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and chronic periodontitis.

Materials and methods: 79 human subjects were randomly divided into 4 groups: first group of periodontitis patients but without CHD (P, n=21), and the second group of CHD patients with no periodontitis (C, n=19), third group was patients suffering from periodontitis and CHD (P/C, n=19) and the fourth group was healthy patients (H, n=20). GCF and blood samples were collected from all subjects. Four pro-inflammatory cytokines: IL-1b, MCP-1, VEGF and PDGF in GCF and serum samples were assessed using Bio-plex Cytokine Assay System.

Results: IL-1b level in serum and GCF from all patients groups (P, C, and P/C) were significantly higher than control group (H) (P<0.05). Serum MCP-1 level was higher in all patients groups than control group but no significant difference of GCF MCP-1 between patients and healthy volunteers. The VEGF concentration in serum of all patient groups (P, C, P/C) was lower than control group (H). Meanwhile, the VEGF concentration in GCF in all patient groups was higher than control group.

Conclusions: IL-1b and MCP-1 could be the important mediators in the initiation and progression of coronary artery disease or periodontitis, and they contributed to the association/correlation between atherosclerosis and periodontal disease.Grant : ZJNSF 205009