title: Age-dependent differential expression of apoptosis markers in the gingival tissue.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current study was performed to test the hypothesis that periodontal disease produces age-dependent activation of apoptotic markers in the gingival tissues.
  
  
  METHODS
  To address the hypothesis a prospective experimental study was designed and twenty-two patients were enrolled. Out of the twenty-two patients, gingival tissue biopsies samples were obtained from active sites of ten and twelve periodontal-healthy (HS) and periodontal disease (PD, probing depths >5mm patients, respectively. The groups were further divided into 25-50 and <5 years age subgroups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant decrease in the expression of TRADD (Tumour Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Death Domain) was observed in 25-50 years of PD group compared to the HS group. Bax (BCL(2)-associated X protein) expression in the PD groups was significantly decreased in PD 25-50 years age group but increased in the >50 years age group compared to respective HS age groups. PD patients of both 25-50 years and >50 years age exhibited a significant increase in the expression of Cytochrome C and Caspase-3 compared to the respective HS groups. The PD patients exhibited a stronger correlation with age in the expression of TRADD and Bax compared to the HS groups. Further analyses revealed that the expression of Caspase-3 correlated with an increase in the age of the healthy patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggested that modulation of apoptotic cascade may contribute to the damage of gingival tissues particularly in PD patients >50 years age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry, 3302 Gaston Avenue, Dallas, TX 75246, United States.
authors.forename: Padmalaya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Mani
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chopra
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Kerns
authors.forename: Sotirios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vastardis
authors.forename: Avadhesh C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D053199:TNF Receptor-Associated Death Domain Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D053199:TNF Receptor-Associated Death Domain Protein; D053148:Caspase 3