Chlamydia pneumoniae together with collagenase-2 (MMP-8) in periodontal lesions.
OBJECTIVE
Dental infections may be associated with subsequent atherosclerosis. In this regard we wanted to study if traces of Chlamydia pneumoniae can be found from deep periodontal pockets characterized with elevated collagenase-2 [matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8] levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). Chlamydia pneumoniae has not previously been found to infect the oral cavity.


METHODS
Subgingival samples of dental plaque were collected from 31 teeth in 12 adult periodontitis patients by means of sterile curettes and examined for C. pneumoniae using a quantitative PCR technique. GCF samples were also collected and assayed by an immunofluorometric assay (IFMA) for MMP-8.


RESULTS
Chlamydia pneumoniae RNA was demonstrated in a sample from one of the patients studied. Periodontal treatment eliminated the C. pneumoniae from the patient's subgingival dental plaque as well as reduced GCF MMP-8 level.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that C. pneumoniae, which is not normally thought to be involved in periodontitis, can be found in dental plaque.
Biomedicum Helsinki, Institute of Dentistry, Research Laboratory, University of Helsinki, Finland.
P
P
Mäntylä
M
M
Stenman
M
M
Paldanius
P
P
Saikku
T
T
Sorsa
J H
JH
Meurman
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016866:Bacteroidaceae Infections / Q000150:complications; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000382:microbiology; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000302:isolation & purification
D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8