title: Influence of subcutaneous administration of recombinant TNF-alpha on ligature-induced periodontitis in rats.
abstract: Proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) was found in inflamed periodontal tissues and many studies pointed to its significant role in development of periodontal disease. In this study, the influence of subcutaneously administered recombinant human TNF-alpha (rhTNF-alpha) on inflammatory reaction and periodontal breakdown in rats was analyzed during experimental periodontitis, induced by placing silk ligatures around the maxillary right second molar tooth. The rats were divided into two groups with five animals in each; the first group was infused subcutaneously with rhTNF-alpha via osmotic pumps for 2 weeks and the second group was infused with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) in the same manner. Inflammatory reaction and periodontal breakdown was evaluated morphometrically on hematoxylin and eosin stained sections. Serum ionized calcium and inorganic phosphates were monitored colorimetrically. Serum calcium and phosphate levels were similar in rats receiving rhTNF-alpha and PBS. Ligation resulted in accelerated periodontal breakdown, while subcutaneous rhTNF-alpha administration by itself had no significant effect. Combined effect of subcutaneous rhTNF-alpha administration and ligation resulted in a significantly greater inflammatory reaction and periodontal breakdown then either treatment alone. We concluded that the subcutaneous administration of rhTNF-alpha accelerates the progression of experimental periodontitis in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Periodontology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Rok
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gaspersic
authors.forename: Draga
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stiblar-Martincic
authors.forename: Josko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Osredkar
authors.forename: Uros
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Skaleric
mesh_terms: D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D003124:Colorimetry; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000276:immunology; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008026:Ligation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D010710:Phosphates; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002118:Calcium