VEGF may be a factor in initiation and progression of gingivitis to periodontitis, possibly by promoting expansion of the vascular network coincident to progression of the inflammation.

No abstract

Serial measurements of alveolar BMD predicts loss of skeletal BMD in OVX sheep. Changes in alveolar BMD precede estrogen deficiency, suggesting that early signs of reduced BMD may be detected in peri-menopausal women. The presence of biomarkers of bone metabolism within saliva and their correlation with reduced BMD suggests that saliva could be used as an adjunct screening method for assessment of skeletal bone density.

There is little information concerning the incidence of alveolar bone loss in estrogen‐deficient women. Ovariectomized sheep are valid models for study of the effects of estrogen deficiency on bone metabolism. The objective of this study was to compare alveolar bone loss in control (C) and ovariectomized sheep (OVX) at 3 and 12 months following surgery. OVX animals had decreased serum levels of 17‐βestradiol and increased serum levels of osteocalcin, IL‐6, and urinary levels of deoxypyridinoline which, taken together, suggest development of osteoporosis. The mean probing depths and percentage of sites with pocket depths 4 to 6 mm and >6 mm were significantly greater in OVX than C at each time period and in OVX were significantly greater at 12 months than at 3 months. Gingival tissue interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) levels (but not the number of IL‐6(+) cells) were elevated adjacent to deep periodontal pockets; however, there was no significant elevation of levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL‐1β and IL‐8 within gingiva. Taken together, the data suggest a systemic contribution for progression of periodontal disease associated with estrogen deficiency. This may involve upregulation of systemic IL‐6 synthesis and transfer to gingiva in serum, resulting in enhanced IL‐6 accumulation within the gingival tissues or reduced bone density allowing for a greater amount of alveolar bone loss. J Periodontol 1997;68:864–871.

These results suggest that the protein, c-erbB-2, is present in relatively equal amounts in both SP and SS glandular secretions. Elevated glandular salivary c-erbB-2 concentrations could be useful as a preliminary, non-invasive test in clinical decision making when diagnosing salivary gland carcinomas. Additionally, this marker may have utility in distinguishing between oral lesions that are benign, pre-malignant and malignant in the oral cavity. Further research is required to determine if these findings have clinical utility.