title: Analysis of protein expression in periodontal pocket tissue: a preliminary study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The periodontal disease is caused by a set of inflammatory disorders characterized by periodontal pocket formation that lead to tooth loss if untreated. The proteomic profile and related molecular conditions of pocket tissue in periodontally-affected patients are not reported in literature. To characterize the proteomic profile of periodontally-affected patients, their interproximal periodontal pocket tissue was compared with that of periodontally-healthy patients. Pocket-associated and healthy tissue samples, harvested during surgical therapy, were treated to extract the protein content. Tissues were always collected at sites where no periodontal-pathogenic bacteria were detectable. Proteins were separated using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and identified by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. After identification, four proteins were selected for subsequent Western Blot quantitation both in pathological and healty tissues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant unbalance in protein expression between healthy and pathological sites was recorded. Thirty-two protein spots were overall identified, and four proteins (S100A9, HSPB1, LEG7 and 14-3-3) were selected for Western blot analysis of both periodontally-affected and healthy patients. The four selected proteins resulted over-expressed in periodontal pocket tissue when compared with the corresponding tissue of periodontally-healthy patients. The results of Western blot analysis are congruent with the defensive and the regenerative reaction of injured periodontal tissues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proteomic analysis was performed for the first time directly on periodontal pocket tissue. The proteomic network highlighted in this study enhances the understanding of periodontal disease pathogenesis necessary for specific therapeutic strategies setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Largo del Pozzo, 71-41124 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0924-4928
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Monari
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Largo del Pozzo, 71-41124 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuoghi
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Largo del Pozzo, 71-41124 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bellei
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Largo del Pozzo, 71-41124 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bergamini
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Largo del Pozzo, 71-41124 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomasi
authors.affiliation: European Research Group on Periodontology (ERGOPERIO), Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Pierpaolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cortellini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zaffe
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences with Transplant Surgery, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine Relevance, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bertoldi
keywords: LC-MS/MS; Periodontitis; Protein identification; Proteome analysis; Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis