From Mouth to Brain: Neuroendocrine Markers Play as a Crosstalk Among Oral and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Abstract

The neuroendocrine system consists of various cells distributed in non-endocrine functional structures, able to synthesize amines and peptides with both local (paracrine) and systemic (endocrine) effects. The presence of such cells, belonging to the neuroendocrine system, is highlighted by the presence of neuroendocrine markers: the most suggestive are chromogranin A, synaptophysin, S-100B protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein. The presence of neuroendocrine markers is commonly associated to the occurrence of neuroendocrine cancers, currently representing the 0.5 percent of all malignant tumors. Nevertheless, neuroendocrine markers have been found to be overexpressed in rare oral neuroendocrine tumors, but also in quite common inflammatory conditions, such as severe periodontitis. The monitoring of neuroendocrine markers is, thus, a common factor of interest among dentistry and neurology: the analysis of neuroendocrine markers in oral diseases may be predictive and prognostic about the severity of neurological diseases, such as lateral amyotrophic sclerosis and traumatic brain injuries. The aim of this mini-review is to highlight the role of neuroendocrine molecules as advantageous diagnostic and prognostic markers for both oral diseases and neurodegenerative disorders.

Efficacy of Sea Salt-Based Mouthwash and Xylitol in Improving Oral Hygiene among Adolescent Population: A Pilot Study

“…The subjects who followed the experimental protocol saw the plaque indexes and the presence of harmful bacteria in the mouth significantly decrease in favor of greater cleaning and oral hygiene. Checking the plaque on the dental surface is of fundamental importance to prevent the onset of diseases related to poor oral hygiene [17]. This control can be done mechanically with antimicrobial chemical agents, but surely prolonged use would cause undesirable effects [18].…”

“…Dental plaque-induced oral dysbiosis and associated diseases, including gingivitis and periodontal disease, has a global distribution and includes a range of diseases that can be mild and/or potentially lethal with the passage of time, also in conjunction with other pathological factors [13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. Among the bacteria that populate the oral cavity, some are associated precisely with the onset of periodontitis, these are called periopathogens.…”

Periapical Disease and the Prefrontal Cortex. Is there a Relationship between Calcium-Binding Protein and Neurodegenerative Diseases?

“…As described above, several studies have shown that AP may influence in systemic disorders promoting alterations in several tissues like skeletal muscle, cardiovascular blood vessels, bone, hepatic tissues, liver and others tissues 1,[36][37][38][39] . Neurological disorders linked with inflammatory alterations caused by AP also has been shown and proven in several studies [40][41][42][43][44] . Thus, is there a relationship among periodontal disease, CaBPs and cerebral disorders as Alzheimer's and schizophrenia diseases?…”