Evaluation of ADAMTS Levels in Patients with Chronic and Aggressive Periodontitis

Abstract

IntroductionADAMTS is a 19‐membered gene family which was first discovered in colon cancer, is associated with inflammation. ADAMTS is a member of matrix metalloproteinases family and they are involved in degradation and repair of extracellular matrix. In recent studies, ADAMTSs are activated with lots of signaling pathways and regulated with lots of cytokines. They play an important role in pathogenesis of many diseases. Based on this information it has been hypothesized that ADAMTS levels would be increased in inflammatory diseases such as periodontal disease. Chronic periodontitis that is the most prevalent form of periodontitis, shows the characteristics of a slowly progressing inflammatory disease. Also, systemic and environmental factors (e.g., diabetes mellitus, smoking) may revise the host's immune response so that periodontal destruction becomes more progressive. The aim of this study is to investigate the presence of ADAMTS genes and proteins in chronic and aggressive periodontitis patients.MethodsFifteen aggressive and 15 chronic periodontitis patients that were systemically healthy were included in this study. Patients presented with chronic or aggressive periodontitis and needed tooth extractions were selected. Gingival biopsies containing epithelium and connective tissue were obtained during the extraction of periodontally involved teeth. Systemically healthy patients who need crown lengthening or gingivectomy procedure for aesthetic reasons were included to the control group. mRNA expression of ADAMTSs were evaluated by real‐time PCR method and position of the marked protein in the tissue is determined by Immunohistochemistry method.Results and ConclusionDifferences were observed between the control and disease groups. According to results of the study, it can be concluded that ADAMTS expressions have a potential to be a new marker in pathogenesis of periodontal disease. Western‐blot studies are continuing to determine the protein levels.