Peripheral blood neutrophil extracellular trap production and degradation in chronic periodontitis.
To investigate ex vivo peripheral neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) production and their subsequent degradation by plasma in chronic periodontitis patients, and periodontally and systemically healthy-matched controls.



Chronic periodontitis patient and control (n = 40 pairs) peripheral blood neutrophils (PBN) were stimulated for NET quantification. A subset of patients received non-surgical periodontal therapy (n = 19) and NETs were quantified 3 months later alongside controls. Blood plasma was collected from patients and controls to quantify plasma-induced NET degradation (n = 19 pairs). Subsequent experiments quantified plasma concentrations of DNase-1, immunoglobulin G (IgG), free light chains (FLCs), and cystatin C.



No differences were observed in NET production between patients and controls. However, NET production decreased significantly in patients post-treatment. Plasma NET degradation was significantly lower in patients than controls, which may be due to significantly reduced DNase-1 levels as demonstrated, or potentially due to elevated IgG/FLC concentrations in patients. NET degradation post-periodontal treatment was comparable between patients and controls.



NET production was comparable between patients and controls; however, non-surgical therapy causes attenuated NETs. NET degradation by plasma is impaired in untreated chronic periodontitis, potentially increasing the chronic NET burden, which may enhance antimicrobial function, or conversely, increase the risk of autoimmune/inflammatory responses.
Periodontal Research Group and MRC Centre for Immune Regulation, School of Dentistry, University of Birmingham, UK and Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust, 5 Mill Pool Way, Birmingham, B5 7EG, UK.
Phillipa
P
White
Department of Preventive Dentistry, Periodontology and Implant Biology, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Dimitra
D
Sakellari
Periodontal Research Group and MRC Centre for Immune Regulation, School of Dentistry, University of Birmingham, UK and Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust, 5 Mill Pool Way, Birmingham, B5 7EG, UK.
Helen
H
Roberts
Department of Preventive Dentistry, Periodontology and Implant Biology, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Idyli
I
Risafi
Periodontal Research Group and MRC Centre for Immune Regulation, School of Dentistry, University of Birmingham, UK and Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust, 5 Mill Pool Way, Birmingham, B5 7EG, UK.
Martin
M
Ling
Periodontal Research Group and MRC Centre for Immune Regulation, School of Dentistry, University of Birmingham, UK and Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust, 5 Mill Pool Way, Birmingham, B5 7EG, UK.
Paul
P
Cooper
Periodontal Research Group and MRC Centre for Immune Regulation, School of Dentistry, University of Birmingham, UK and Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust, 5 Mill Pool Way, Birmingham, B5 7EG, UK.
Mike
M
Milward
Periodontal Research Group and MRC Centre for Immune Regulation, School of Dentistry, University of Birmingham, UK and Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust, 5 Mill Pool Way, Birmingham, B5 7EG, UK.
Iain
I
Chapple
D055113:Chronic Periodontitis; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I; D065206:Extracellular Traps; D006801:Humans; D009504:Neutrophils
D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I
NET degradation; chronic periodontitis; neutrophil extracellular traps; neutrophils