title: Involvement of the Wnt-β-catenin signalling antagonists, sclerostin and dickkopf-related protein 1, in chronic periodontitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The regulation of Wnt-β-catenin signalling, which is crucial for osteoblast differentiation and for bone resorption, is driven by critical inhibitors such as sclerostin (SOST) and dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1). As such, the aim of this study was to evaluate the involvement of SOST and DKK1 in human chronic periodontitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gingival biopsies and serum were sampled from systemically healthy non-periodontitis (n = 15) and chronic periodontitis subjects (n = 15). The mRNA and protein levels of SOST, DKK1 and TNF-α in periodontal tissues were measured by qPCR and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. Serum levels of SOST, DKK1 and TNF-α were assessed by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mRNA and protein levels of SOST, DKK1 and TNF-α were significantly increased in the gingival tissues of the chronic periodontitis when compared to the non-periodontitis group (p < 0.05). In addition, circulating levels of SOST and TNF-α, but not DKK1, were higher in the periodontitis group than in the non-periodontitis group (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SOST and DKK1 were upregulated in the periodontal tissues of chronic periodontitis subjects, suggesting a possible role of these molecules on periodontal tissues.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biology, São Leopoldo Mandic Institute and Research Center, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Henrique
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Napimoga
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nametala
authors.forename: Fábio Luiz
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Tamires Szeremeske
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Jeruza P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bossonaro
authors.forename: Ana Paula Dias
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Demasi
authors.forename: Poliana Mendes
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Duarte
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000328:Adult; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000378:metabolism; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005881:Gingiva / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000378:metabolism; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D015854:Up-Regulation; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; C501126:DKK1 protein, human; D005819:Genetic Markers; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C422903:SOST protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
keywords: SOST; bone; dickkopf-related protein 1; inflammation; periodontitis