title: Spontaneous periodontitis is associated with metabolic syndrome in rhesus monkeys.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was designed to investigate (1) whether the non-human primate would be an appropriate animal model for the study of spontaneous periodontitis and its association with metabolic syndrome (MetS), and (2) whether microRNAs (miRNAs) play roles in the co-development of metabolic disorders and periodontitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rhesus monkeys (aged 12-29 years) with or without MetS were analyzed for the prevalence of periodontitis. The potential mechanisms underlying the association between MetS and periodontitis were explored using miRNA profiling of the gingival tissues from the MetS monkey groups with or without periodontitis as well as the age-matched controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 57 rhesus monkeys examined, 18 were diagnosed with periodontitis according to the inclusion criteria, with an overall prevalence of 31.6%. Moreover, the prevalence of periodontitis was 8.3% in the control group, 18.2% in the at-risk group, and 44.1% in the MetS group. The C-reactive protein level was doubled in the MetS periodontitis group, compared to the non-periodontitis sub-groups. Most importantly, only 3 miRNAs were confirmed to be differentially expressed between the MetS periodontitis and non-periodontitis subgroups while other miRNAs showed similar expression profiles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that the monkey with MetS is an ideal model for studies of spontaneous periodontitis and its association with MetS. miRNA profiling using this unique model showed that miRNAs play roles in the co-development of MetS and periodontitis.
authors: Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China; Beijing Stomatological Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
authors: Hai-Tao
authors: HT
authors: Sun
authors: Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
authors: Ning
authors: N
authors: Hou
authors: Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
authors: Xiuqin
authors: X
authors: Zhang
authors: Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China. Electronic address: jue.wang@pku.edu.cn.
authors: Jue
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Beijing Stomatological Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China. Electronic address: dr_baiyuxing@163.com.
authors: Yuxing
authors: Y
authors: Bai
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000032:analysis*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Metabolic syndrome; MicroRNA; Periodontitis; Rhesus monkey