title: Increased leukotriene concentrations in gingival crevicular fluid from subjects with periodontal disease and atherosclerosis.
abstract: Recent studies indicate that periodontal disease is associated with the development of early atherosclerotic lesions in the carotid artery. Since inflammation is a key feature in both atherosclerosis and periodontal disease, a common mediator of the two diseases could be anticipated. Leukotrienes are lipid-derived inflammatory mediators recently implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and previously shown to be produced in periodontitis. The aim of the present study was to detect leukotrienes in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) from subjects with atherosclerosis. Carotid ultrasonography and oral clinical examination were performed in 19 periodontitis patients and 16 healthy subjects. Atherosclerotic plaques were detected on ultrasound examination in 13 subjects with periodontis, and in 5 of the healthy subjects. Elevated concentrations of leukotriene B(4) and cysteinyl-leukotrienes were detected in GCF from subjects with a high dental plaque index (PLI>0.3), supporting an increased leukotriene formation in periodontitis. In addition, subjects with atherosclerotic plaques had significantly elevated concentrations of cysteinyl-leukotrienes in their GCF as compared with subjects without a visible plaque. Finally, the increased cysteinyl-leukotriene concentrations in GCF from atherosclerotic subjects were observed also when sub groups of periodontis patients and healthy subjects were compared separately. In summary, increased GCF concentrations of cysteinyl-leukotrienes were correlated to measures of both periodontitis and atherosclerosis. These results suggest that increased leukotriene formation may represent a possible link between periodontitis and atherosclerosis and a risk factor marker for both diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, L8:03, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. Magnus.Back@cmm.ki.se
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bäck
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Airila-Månsson
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jogestrand
authors.forename: Birgitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Söder
authors.forename: Per-Osten
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Söder
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000032:analysis*; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D015289:Leukotrienes; D007975:Leukotriene B4