Modulatory influence of melatonin on apical periodontitis in Wistar rats fed a high-fat diet.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of high-fat diet (HFD) and melatonin (MEL) treatment on the progression of inflammation and alveolar bone resorption (ABR) in rats with AP. DESIGN: Forty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: apical periodontitis (AP), HFDAP, APMEL and HFDAPMEL. The animals were fed an HFD or standard diet for 107 days. On the 7th day, the rats were subjected to AP, and after 70 days, the rats in the MEL groups were treated with MEL for 30 days. Post treatment, the animals were euthanized, and their jaws were retrieved for evaluation of bone resorption, intensity of the inflammatory response, and immunohistochemical analysis including tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) levels and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression. RESULTS: The APMEL group showed reduction in the inflammatory infiltrate and IL-1ß expression relation to HFDAP, while the TNF-α levels did not differ among the groups. The HFDAP group showed an increase in the ABR. MEL reduced the TRAP levels in the APMEL and HFDAPMEL groups. CONCLUSIONS: while MEL could reduce TRAP levels in the APMEL and HFDAPMEL groups, the reduction in the HFDAPMEL group was smaller than that in the APMEL group, demonstrating that the interaction between AP and HFD decreased the anti-resorptive effects of MEL.

Melatonin promotes reduction in TNF levels and improves the lipid profile and insulin sensitivity in pinealectomized rats with periodontal disease.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the effects of melatonin (ME) on insulin resistance (IR) and signaling (IS), proinflammatory cytokine levels, and lipid profiles in pinealectomyzed (PNX) rats with periodontal disease (PD). MAIN METHODS: One hundred and forty-four rats (age = 40 days) were distributed into 8 groups: 1) control (CN); 2) PD only; 3) PNX only; 4) PNX and PD (PNXPD); 5) CN treated with ME (CNM); 6) PD treated with ME (PDM); 7) PNX treated with ME(PNXM); 8) PNX and PD treated with ME(PNXPDM). The PNX groups were subjected to pinealectomy at 40 and at 60 days of age. The animals were then subjected to PD induction in the mandibular first molars. After PD induction, the ME replacement therapy (MERT-5 mg/kg body weight) was performed using water for 28 days. After this period, the plasma concentration of glucose, insulin, TNF, IL-6, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and VLDL-cholesterol and the HOMA-IR index were determined. Akt serine phosphorylation status in the white adipose tissue, gastrocnemius muscle, and rat liver were also evaluated. KEY FINDINGS: PD, PNX, and PNXPD groups showed an increase in IR with elevated plasma levels of insulin and TNF compared to CN group. PNX and PNXPD groups presented alteration in lipid profile compared to CN group. MERT improved all of the analyzed parameters. No difference was observed in the IS among different groups. SIGNIFICANCE: The results suggest that MERT efficiently prevents IR, improves lipid profile, and increases plasma levels of insulin and TNF in PD and PNX rats.

Efeitos da melatonina na sinalização insulínica de ratos com doença periodontal e pinealectomizados / Effects of melatonin on insulin signaling in rats with periodontal and pinealectomized disease

A doença periodontal (DP) é uma preocupação de saúde pública, uma vez que leva à perda dos elementos dentais; além disso, possui associações com outras doenças inflamatórias crônicas tais como a síndrome metabólica e diabetes mellitus. Sabe-se que períodos irregulares de sono podem prejudicar o processamento de memória, reparo celular, regulação hormonal, metabolismo dos carboidratos e aumentar marcadores inflamatórios, evidenciando que o trabalho noturno ou em turnos alternados podem afetar a saúde do trabalhador. A melatonina (MEL) é o principal hormônio que controla os ritmos biológicos no nosso organismo, participando na regulação do sono, metabolismo de carboidratos e lipídeos, sendo suprimida quando há exposição a luz. Considerando-se os efeitos regulatórios da MEL sobre processos inflamatórios, se faz relevante avaliar a influência da deficiência ou suplementação de MEL sobre um processo inflamatório localizado como a DP. Objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os efeitos da MEL na resistência à insulina (RI), na via de sinalização da insulina, nas citocinas pró-inflamatórias e no perfil lipídico em ratos pinealectomizados (PNX) sem ou com DP. 144 ratos Wistar (40 dias de idade) foram distribuídos em 8 grupos: 1) controle (CN); 2) DP; 3) PNX; 4) PNX e com DP (PNXDP); 5) CN tratado com MEL (CNMEL); 6) DP tratado com ME (DPMEL); 7) PNX tratado com MEL (PNXMEL); 8) PNX com DP e tratados com MEL (PNXDPMEL). Inicialmente os grupos PNX foram submetidos à cirurgia de pinealectomia aos 40 dias de idade e aos 60 dias de idade os animais foram submetidos à indução de DP nos primeiros molares inferiores. Logo após a indução da DP, foi iniciada a reposição com MEL (5 mg/Kg) por via oral (diluída em água de beber) por 28 dias. Ao término do tratamento foram analisados os seguintes parâmetros: 1) dosagem de glicemia e insulinemia; 2) avaliação do perfil lipídico; 3) avaliação do grau de fosforilação em serina da Akt no tecido adiposo, músculo gastrocnêmio e fígado. Os resultados demonstram 1) DP e PNX com DP causaram RI e aumento nas concentrações plasmáticas de TNF-α; 2) nenhuma diferença na glicemia e nos níveis de IL-6; 3) nenhuma alteração no grau de fosforilação em serina da AKT após a estimulação insulínica entre os grupos nos tecidos analisados; 4) apenas os grupos PNX e PNXDP apresentaram alteração no perfil lipídico; 5) a reposição com MEL melhorou todos os parâmetros alterados analisados. A partir desses resultados podemos inferir que a administração de MEL foi capaz de melhorar a resistência à insulina, diminuir a insulinemia e as concentrações plasmáticas de TNF-α e nos grupos DP, PNX e PNXDP, além disso restaurar o perfil lipídico nos grupos pinealectomizados. Podemos sugerir que a MEL teve um papel protetivo, diminuindo a RI em ratos com DP e PNX com ou sem DP. Somente nestes grupos PNX, a MEL melhorou o quadro do perfil lipídico. Desta maneira, o presente estudo enfatiza a importância de se prevenir a DP afim de prevenir a RI, a qual está intimamente relacionada com o DM2, como também alertar aos trabalhadores noturno que podem apresentar desordens nos ritmos biológicos levando as alterações metabólicas(AU)

Periodontal disease (PD) is a public health concern, since it leads to loss of dental elements. Furthermore, it has associations with other chronic inflammatory diseases such as the metabolic syndrome and Diabetes mellitus. It is known that irregular periods of sleep can impair memory processing, cell repair, hormonal regulation, carbohydrate metabolism, and increased inflammatory markers. Furthermore, night work or alternating shifts can affect the health of workers. Melatonin (MEL) is the main hormone that controls the biological rhythms in our organism, participating in the regulation of sleep, metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids, being suppressed when there is exposure to light. Considering the regulatory effects of MEL on inflammatory processes, it is relevant to evaluate the influence of ME deficiency or supplementation on a localized inflammatory process such as PD. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of MEL on insulin resistance (IR), insulin signaling, proinflammatory cytokines and lipid profile in pinealectomized rats (PNX) with PD. 144 rats (40 days old) were distributed in 8 groups: 1) control (CN); 2) PD; 3) PNX; 4) PNX and with PD (PNXPD); 5) CN treated with MEL (CNM); 6) PD treated with (PDMEL); 7) PNX treated with MEL (PNXMEL); 8) PNX and PD treated with MEL (PNXPDMEL). Initially the PNX groups were submitted to pinealectomy surgery at 40 days of age and at 60 days of age the animals were submitted to the induction of PD in the lower first molars. Immediately after induction of PD, treatment with MEL (5 mg / kg) was initiated orally (diluted in drinking water) for 28 days. After the treatment the following parameters were analyzed: 1) assessment of glycemia and insulinemia; 2) evaluation of the lipid profile; 3) evaluation of the Akt serine phosphorylation status in adipose tissue, gastrocnemius muscle and liver. The results demonstrate that: 1) PD and PNX with PD caused insulin resistance and increased plasma concentrations of TNF-α; 2) no difference in glycemia and IL-6 levels; 3) no alteration in Akt serine phosphorylation status after the insulin stimulation between the groups in the tissues analyzed; 4) only the PNX and PNXPD groups showed alterations in the lipid profile; 5) the administration of MEL improved all altered parameters analyzed. The results suggest that MEL can be efficient in preventing IR, alteration in lipid profile and increase in plasma levels of insulin and TNF-α promoted by PD and PNX. From these results we can infer that the MEL administration was able to improve insulin resistance, decrease insulinemia and plasma concentrations of TNF-α in the PD, PNX and PNXPD groups, in addition to restoring the lipid profile in the pinealectomized groups. We may suggest that MEL had a protective role, decreasing IR in rats with PD and PNX with or without PD. Only in these PNX groups the MEL improved the lipid profile. Thus, the present study emphasizes the importance of preventing PD in order to prevent IR, which is closely related to DM2, as well as to alert shift workers that they may present disorders in the biological rhythms leading to metabolic alterations(AU)