title: Decreased phosphorylation of platelet vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein in periodontitis--a role of periodontal pathogens.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidemiological studies indicate an association between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) in its phosphorylated form represents a regulator of platelet function and an indicator for the sensitivity of platelets towards physiologically relevant antagonists of platelet function. As platelets and their activation state play a central role in the development of cardiovascular disease, this study aimed to investigate the influence of periodontal disease and periodontal pathogens on intraplatelet VASP-phosphorylation and platelet function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Besides several markers of platelet activation, basal and PGE(1) induced intracellular VASP-phosphorylation were determined in platelets of periodontitis patients (n = 26) and healthy donors (n = 19). Furthermore, platelets from healthy donors were incubated with distinct periodontal pathogens and basal and PGE(1) induced VASP-phosphorylation was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to controls, platelets of periodontitis patients showed a significant decrease in basal and PGE(1) induced VASP-phosphorylation. VASP-phosphorylation in platelets from periodontitis patients positive for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis or Tannerella forsythia was significantly decreased compared to patients that were negative for these bacteria. Furthermore, VASP-phosphorylation in platelets isolated from healthy donors was affected by incubation with these periodontal pathogens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results provide evidence that periodontitis interferes with VASP-phosphorylation in human platelets, presumably as a consequence of a direct effect of periodontitis-associated bacteria. Decreased basal and PGE(1) induced VASP-phosphorylation might represent a mechanism responsible for enhanced platelet activation in periodontitis.
authors: Department of Dental Education, Medical University of Vienna, Sensengasse 2a, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. tengelha@ejgh.org
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Laky
authors: Alice
authors: A
authors: Assinger
authors: Azadeh
authors: A
authors: Esfandeyari
authors: Kristina
authors: K
authors: Bertl
authors: Hady
authors: H
authors: Haririan
authors: Ivo
authors: I
authors: Volf
mesh_terms: D000188:Actinobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000189:Actinobacillus Infections / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D016866:Bacteroidaceae Infections / Q000097:blood; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D041965:Flavobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D045826:Flavobacteriaceae Infections / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D015539:Platelet Activation; D010976:Platelet Count; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000098662:Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D000098662:Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein