Periostin is Down-regulated during Periodontal Inflammation

Abstract

Periostin, a matricellular adapter protein highly expressed by periodontal ligament fibroblasts, is implicated in the maintenance of periodontal integrity, which is compromised during periodontal diseases. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of chronic periodontal inflammation on tissue periostin levels. Periodontal breakdown was induced in a pre-clinical ligature periodontal inflammatory disease model. Periodontal tissue specimens were harvested at baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks and prepared for histologic, immunofluorescence, and micro-CT examination. Statistical analyses were conducted by Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, and Spearman’s tests. Periostin detection levels were reduced over time in response to the inflammatory process (1 ± 0.05; 0.67 ± 0.03; 0.31 ± 0.02; p < 0.001; baseline, 2, and 4 weeks, respectively). Simultaneously, alveolar bone loss increased from baseline to the 2- and 4-week time-points (0.40 ± 0.02 mm; 1.39 ± 0.08 mm; 1.33 ± 0.15 mm; p < 0.001), which was inversely correlated with the levels of periostin (ρ = -0.545; p < 0.001). In conclusion, periostin PDL tissue levels significantly decrease under chronic inflammatory response and correlate with the detrimental changes to the periodontium over time.

Assessment of periostin levels in serum and gingival crevicular fluid of patients with periodontal disease

“…Periodontal tissues in rats were harvested at baseline, 2 and 4 wk after experimental periodontitis induction. Similar to our biochemical findings, periostin levels proportionally decreased over time in response to the inflammatory process . It was also reported that alveolar bone loss inversely correlated with the levels of periostin.…”

Periostin as a multifunctional modulator of the wound healing response

“…Using an observational prospective case-control study Padial-Molina and colleagues assessed Postn expression in patients with and without periodontitis. Histologically, they identified that Postn protein levels were reduced in the sub-epithelial tissues in patients with periodontitis, which has been shown previously in a rat model to result from inflammatory processes (Padial-Molina, et al, 2012). Following surgery in humans however, Postn levels increased in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in both healthy and disease patients, although was higher in the latter group.…”

Differential expression of periostin, sclerostin, receptor activator of nuclear factor‐κB, and receptor activator of nuclear factor‐κB ligand genes in severe chronic periodontitis

“…A ligature‐induced periodontitis model in rats demonstrated the downregulation of POSTN in sites with chronic periodontal inflammation. Lowered levels of POSTN in the inflamed tissue could have resulted in decreased periodontal ligament integrity and subsequent breakdown of the supporting periodontal structures . The findings of downregulated POSTN expression in sites with disease progression are supported by another study, which demonstrated low POSTN levels in patients with chronic periodontitis.…”