Evaluation of adipokines and inflammatory mediator expression levels in patients with periodontitis and peri-implantitis: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the mRNA and protein expression of adiponectin, leptin, visfatin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-6 levels in periodontitis and peri-implantitis sites in systemically healthy individuals and to investigate the influence of the presence of current periodontitis on their expression levels in peri-implantitis sites. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Soft tissue biopsy samples were collected from 60 systemically healthy patients [15 periodontally healthy patients (group I), 16 patients with periodontitis (group II), 15 patients with peri-implantitis (group III), and 14 patients with peri-implantitis and periodontitis (group IV)]; mRNA expression levels of adiponectin, leptin, visfatin, TNF-α, and IL-6 were measured by quantitative real-time PCR; and their protein levels were assessed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The mRNA expression levels of all biomarkers were significantly higher for group II compared to group I, while significantly higher levels of leptin, TNF-α, and IL-6 were observed in group III in comparison with group I. Group II exhibited significantly higher mRNA expression of adiponectin and TNF-α than group III. Group IV showed significantly higher expression levels of adiponectin, leptin, TNF-α, and IL-6 compared to group III. Regarding the expression of protein levels, which was estimated through quantification of the histoscore, both groups II and III presented higher H-scores than group I for all biomarkers except leptin. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of current periodontitis may enhance expression levels of adiponectin, leptin, TNF-α, and IL-6 in peri-implant soft tissue. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The presence of periodontitis is an important risk factor for the severity of peri-implant inflammation as well as the onset of peri-implantitis.

Evaluation of chemerin and its receptors, ChemR23 and CCRL2, in gingival tissues with healthy and periodontitis.

Chemerin is a chemoattractant protein that directs inflammatory cells that express its receptor chemokine receptor-like 1 (ChemR23) towards sites of inflammation. C-C chemokine receptor-like 2 (CCRL2), is the other receptor of chemerin, improves the interaction between chemerin and ChemR23. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of chemerin and its receptors in gingival tissues with healthy and periodontitis. Tissue biopsy samples were obtained from 20 patients with chronic periodontitis and from the gingiva of 20 healthy individuals undergoing a crown lengthening process. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was used to examine the mRNA expression of chemerin, ChemR23 and CCRL2. Additionally, protein expression was measured by immunohistochemistry. Both qPCR and immunohistochemistry results revealed that the expression of chemerin and ChemR23 was significantly higher in tissues with periodontitis than in healthy tissues (P = 0.001 and, P = 0.015, respectively). There were no significant differences between healthy tissues and those with periodontitis in terms of mRNA expression of CCRL2, whereas a more intense staining was observed in tissues with periodontitis. The mRNA expression levels of chemerin showed a positive correlation with plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level (r = 0.448, r = 0.460, r = 0.439 and, r = 0.459, respectively, P < 0.01). To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to examine the expression of chemerin, ChemR23 and CCRL2 in gingival tissues. Our study suggests that chemerin may play a role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis by causing chemoattraction of immune cells that direct ChemR23 receptors to the site of inflammation.

Increased visfatin expression is associated with nuclear factor-kappa B and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in periodontal inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: Visfatin is an adipocytokine that plays a role in regulating periodontal inflammation by as yet identified mechanisms. It has been suggested that visfatin mediates inflammation via activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3k) signaling pathways which play a role in the inhibition of neutrophil apoptosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of visfatin, NF-κB (NF-κB1 and NF-κB2), PI3k, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) in the tissue of healthy individuals and patients with periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tissue biopsy samples were obtained from 21 patients with chronic periodontitis and from the gingiva of 19 healthy individuals undergoing crown lengthening. The mRNA expression levels of visfatin, NF-κB, PI3k, TNF-α, and IL-1ß were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Also, visfatin protein expression was measured by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Both qPCR and immunohistochemistry results revealed that the visfatin expression was higher in the tissues with periodontitis than in healthy tissues (P < 0.01). Similarly, the mRNA expression levels of NF-κB2, PI3k, and IL-1ß were higher in tissues with periodontitis than in healthy gingival tissues (P < 0.01). Visfatin was positively correlated with the levels of NF-κB1 (r = 0.549, P < 0.05), NF-κB2 (r = 0.636, P < 0.05), PI3k (r = 0.682, P < 0.01), TNF-α (r = 0.558, P < 0.05), and IL-1ß (r = 0.686, P < 0.01) in the tissues with periodontitis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that increased visfatin was associated with the expression of NF-κB and PI3k which may play a role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. We suggest that increased visfatin may contribute to the inhibition of neutrophil apoptosis via the NF-κB and PI3k signaling pathways. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Understanding the role of visfatin in periodontitis will enable the development of new treatment methods for inflammation.

Serum adiponectin, TNF-α, IL-12p70, and IL-13 levels in multiple sclerosis and the effects of different therapy regimens.

OBJECTIVES: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the human central nervous system. In the present study, we aimed to determine adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-12p70, and IL-13 levels in the sera of patients with MS and to investigate the effects of interferon (IFN), glatiramer acetate (GA), and immunosuppressive treatment regimens on these parameters. METHODS: Fifty-seven patients with MS and 34 healthy controls were enrolled into the study. Serum cytokine levels were measured using enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: Significantly elevated levels of IL-12p70 and IL-13 were found in the sera of patients with MS, but decreased adiponectin levels were found in patients' sera compared to healthy controls. The levels of IL-12p70 and IL-13 in the IFN therapy group were higher than those of the healthy controls. However, the IL-12p70 and IL-13 levels in the GA therapy group were not different from those of the healthy controls. There were no differences with regard to adiponectin levels among the subgroups of patients with MS according to therapy regimen and the healthy controls. At the end of a 2-year follow-up period, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) values were found to be increased in the IFN therapy group but unchanged in the GA therapy group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that adiponectin, IL-12p70, and IL-13 may play a role in the pathogenesis of MS. Additionally, GA therapy regimens in MS are more effective than IFN therapy with respect to decreasing the levels of IL-12p70 and IL-13 and stabilizing the EDSS value.

Plasma ghrelin levels in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever.

Familial mediterranean fever (FMF) is a familial disease characterized by recurrent episodes of febrile serositis, peritonitis, arthritis and pleuritis. Many studies have been performed is an attempt to understand the basis of the inflammatory attacts in FMF. Ghrelin, a recently described orexigene peptide is predominantly produced by stomach. Ghrelin also exerts multiple regulatory effects on immune system. It has reported that grelin has anti-inflammatory effects. There is currently no published evidence demonstrating a role for anti-inflammatory effects of ghrelin in FMF. For this reason, we investigated the role of plasma ghrelin levels in patients with FMF. Thirty seven patients with FMF and 10 healthy controls (5 female, 5 male; mean age 35.4 +/- 5.6 years) were enrolled in this study. Twenty-one patients were in active stage (10 female, 11 male, mean age; 31.0 +/- 5.4 years, mean disease duration 7.2 +/- 3.3 years) and 16 patients were in inactive stage (7 female,9 male, mean age; 33.0 +/- 6.0 years, mean disease duration; 8.7 +/- 3.2 years). Plasma ghrelin levels were determined by EIA. The mean plasma ghrelin levels were 158.4 +/- 52.9 pg/ml in patients with FMF and 56.7 +/- 7.5 pg/ml in healthy controls. The mean plasma ghrelin levels were 190.5 +/- 49.4 pg/ml in the active patients and 116.2 +/- 11.7 pg/ml in the inactive patients. Plasma ghrelin levels were significantly high in patients with FMF compared to healthy controls (p<0.001). Plasma ghrelin levels were significantly high in the active patients compared to in the inactive patients and healthy controls (p<0.001 and p<0.001 respectively). There was significantly difference between in active and inactive patients with FMF (p<0.001). As a results; Plasma ghrelin levels were high both in active and inactive patients with FMF. It is showed that ghrelin may play significant role of the pathogenesis of FMF.

[Prognostic value of serum TNF-alpha, IL-10, leptin and CRP levels in newborns with septicemia]. / Sepsisli yenidoganlarda serum TNF-alpha, IL-10, leptin ve CRP düzeylerinin prognostik degeri.

This study was aimed to investigate the prognostic value of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-10 (IL-10), leptin and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in newborn sepsis. A total of 57 newborns with nosocomial sepsis and 30 healthy newborns were included to the study. Serum TNF-alpha, IL-10, leptin (Biosource, Belgium) and CRP (Dade Behring, Germany) levels were investigated by ELISA methodology before the initiation of the therapy (day 0) and on the third and fifth days of therapy. Initial leptin levels were found to be high in the control group (p = 0.00) and CRP levels were found to be high in the patient group (p = 0.00). No significant difference was detected for IL-10 and TNF-alpha levels (p > 0.05). CRP levels were significantly higher in the patient group than the controls on the third day of the therapy (p = 0.001), however, no significant difference was detected for the other parameters (p > 0.05). On the fifth day of the therapy CRP (p = 0.023) and leptin (p = 0.00) levels were significantly high in the patient group and TNF-alpha in the control group (p = 0.00) while no significant difference was observed for IL-10 levels (p > 0.05). Mortality rate was 24.5%. When the mean TNF-alpha, IL-10, leptin and CRP levels on the 0th, 3rd and 5th days were analysed for alive (n = 43) and dead (n = 14) newborns with sepsis, it was observed that TNF-alpha, IL-10 and CRP levels were related with poor prognosis (p < 0.05). The ROC analysis performed for the determination of the prognostic performance of TNF-alpha and IL-10 revealed that these parameters had predictive value about mortality when their levels were above certain cut-off values (on the 5th day of therapy for IL-10 > 1.8 ng/ml and for TNF-alpha > 21.1 ng/ml). It can be concluded that besides routine laboratory parameters, serum TNF-alpha and IL-10 levels at the initiation of therapy and afterwards may help to predict prognosis and guide treatment in newborns with sepsis.

Investigations of genetic variation between olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars using arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR).

Characterization and selection of olive clones for the production of olive oil is essential in Turkey because of its profitable exploitation. AP-PCR (Arbitrarily-Primed PCR) is a technique that can distinguish the genetic relationship among plant species and other organisms. In this study, AP-PCR approach was used in order to determine the genetic relationship of different six olive clones. The purity of DNA is one of the most important factors affecting the product of the AP-PCR method. In this respect, modified genomic DNA isolation procedure from Oleae europaea clones was developed so that this procedure can be used to obtain plant genomic DNA from diverse aromatic plants, which produce essential oils and secondary metabolites. By following the optimized AP-PCR amplification protocol, unique DNA fingerprint profiles for each olive clone were produced. AP-PCR-generated unique DNA fingerprint profiles can be used in the identification, distribution and diversity of various olive cultivars.