HHV-6, HHV-7, HHV-8 in gingival biopsies from chronic adult periodontitis patients. A case-control study.
BACKGROUND
Recent reports have suggested that various herpesviruses may be involved in the occurrence and progression of different forms of periodontal disease.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the present study was to investigate the presence of the novel herpesviruses HHV-6, HHV-7 and HHV-8 in gingival biopsies from patients affected by chronic adult periodontitis. As control, gingival biopsies from periodontally healthy subjects were analysed.


METHODS
Gingival biopsies were harvested from 23 volunteers: 13 patients affected by chronic adult periodontitis (CAP) and 10 periodontally healthy subjects. Each CAP patient contributed two biopsies involving the epithelium and connective tissue facing the sulcus/periodontal pockets: one biopsy from a site having a probing pocket depth (PPD) > or =5 mm and presenting with bleeding upon probing (affected site) at the time of biopsy collection, and the other biopsy from a site with PPD< or =3 mm and without bleeding on probing (nonaffected site). After DNA extraction, nested PCR was used in herpesvirus identification.


RESULTS
HHV-6 DNA sequences were detected in one non-affected site (8%) and no affected sites (0%) of CAP patients. One biopsy (10%) in healthy subjects revealed HHV-6 positivity. Tissue specimens in 10/13 CAP patients (77%) and 7/10 healthy subjects (70%) contained HHV-7 DNA. HHV-7 prevalence in affected and nonaffected sites of CAP patients was 77% and 54%, respectively. HHV-8 was detected in 7.7% of CAP patients and 0% of healthy subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Gingival tissue may act as a reservoir for HHV-7. A high prevalence of HHV-7 was detected in both periodontally diseased and healthy individuals. The prevalence of HHV-6 and -8 was similarly low in both groups. Our data do not support an association of investigated herpesvirus species with destructive periodontal disease.
Cassai
Enrico
E
Research Center for the Study of Periodontal Diseases, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
Galvan
Monica
M
Trombelli
Leonardo
L
Rotola
Antonella
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D004848:Epithelium / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000821:virology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016199:Herpesvirus 7, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000821:virology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000821:virology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D004279:DNA, Viral