Circulating endothelial progenitor cells in periodontitis.

BACKGROUND: Several biologically plausible mechanisms have been proposed to mediate the association between periodontitis and atherosclerotic vascular disease (AVD), including adverse effects on vascular endothelial function. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (cEPCs) are known to contribute to vascular repair, but limited data are available regarding the relationship between cEPC levels and periodontitis. The aims of this cross-sectional study are to investigate the levels of hemangioblastic and monocytic cEPCs in patients with periodontitis and periodontally healthy controls and to associate cEPC levels with the extent and severity of periodontitis. METHODS: A total of 112 individuals (56 patients with periodontitis and 56 periodontally healthy controls, aged 26 to 65 years; mean age: 43 years) were enrolled. All participants underwent a full-mouth periodontal examination and provided a blood sample. Hemangioblastic cEPCs were assessed using flow cytometry, and monocytic cEPCs were identified using immunohistochemistry in cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells. cEPC levels were analyzed in the entire sample, as well as in a subset of 50 pairs of patients with periodontitis/periodontally healthy controls, matched with respect to age, sex, and menstrual cycle. RESULTS: Levels of hemangioblastic cEPCs were approximately 2.3-fold higher in patients with periodontitis than periodontally healthy controls, after adjustments for age, sex, physical activity, systolic blood pressure, and body mass index (P = 0.001). A non-significant trend for higher levels of monocytic cEPCs in periodontitis was also observed. The levels of hemangioblastic cEPCs were positively associated with the extent of bleeding on probing, probing depth, and clinical attachment loss. Hemangioblastic and monocytic cEPC levels were not correlated (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.03, P = 0.77), suggesting that they represent independent populations of progenitor cells. CONCLUSION: These findings further support the notion that oral infections have extraoral effects and document that periodontitis is associated with a mobilization of EPCs from the bone marrow, apparently in response to systemic inflammation and endothelial injury.

Traumatic dental injuries in twins: is there a genetic risk for dental injuries?

Traumatic dental injuries are a major cause of morbidity among children. Investigation of risk factors of dental trauma is important to take preventive measures in patients at high risk for tooth accidents. The aim of this work was to conduct a pilot study in twins, assessing concordance of suffered traumatic dental and facial injuries. Comparison of concordances between monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs was performed in order to investigate possible genetically determined accident-proneness. Standardized interviews were conducted focusing on the frequency of orofacial accidents and their circumstances. In addition, the front teeth of all participating twins were clinically examined. A total of 104 twins (52 twin pairs) were surveyed: 31 of the 52 twin pairs were DZ and 21 pairs were MZ. 36 (34.6%) of the 104 interviewees had already suffered from a tooth injury, whereas 53 (51%) of the participants had experienced a facial injury. Investigation of concordances of suffered traumatic dental injuries revealed that 66.7% of the MZ twin pairs and 58.1% of the DZ pairs were concordant. With respect to facial traumata, 52.4% of the MZ pairs compared to 58.1% of the DZ pairs were concordant. Differences between zygosity were not statistically significant (P >/= 0.05). With the present pilot study, no statistical evidence of genetic risk for dental and facial injuries could be displayed. On the contrary, environmental factors seem to dominate in determining an individual's risk for orofacial traumata.