The Role of Sulfhydryl (Thiols) Groups in Oral and Periodontal Diseases

Abstract

Aim. The sulfhydryl (thiols) group of glutathione plays an important role in the neutralization of foreign organic compounds and the reduction in peroxides. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the concentration of sulfhydryl groups in the gingival tissue of healthy individuals and those with gingivitis or periodontitis, and to examine the differences between these groups. Material and methods. To assess the concentration of sulfhydryl groups (thiols) in the gingival tissue of healthy individuals and those with gingivitis or periodontitis, we used spectrophotometric analysis using dithionitrobenzoate (DTNB) as a reagent to measure the accessible sulfhydryl groups present in gingival tissue proteins. The sample was divided into three distinct groups: individuals with periodontal health, gingivitis, and periodontitis, and different indices were used to assess the periodontal status of the participants. Next, a statistical analysis was conducted to compare the concentrations of sulfhydryl groups among the different groups of patients. Conclusions. The results of this study showed significantly decreased levels of sulfhydryl (thiols) groups in gingival tissue from patients with gingivitis and periodontitis, compared with healthy people (control group). These results confirm the role of sulfhydryl (thiols) groups in defense against free radicals. They share a significant role in detoxification, signal transduction, apoptosis, and various other functions at the molecular level.

Identification of disulfidptosis- and ferroptosis-related transcripts in periodontitis by bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation

“…Second, studies have shown a significant correlation between the severity of periodontitis and serum levels of disulfides, which are significantly elevated in patients with periodontitis compared to the healthy population ( Tayman et al, 2021 ). Another study also confirmed that thiols with reducing properties were significantly reduced in gingival tissues of periodontitis patients ( Cerkezi et al, 2024 ), and that this reducing compound plays a crucial role in resistance to oxidative stress. Furthermore, disulfidptosis has been progressively studied in inflammatory diseases such as obligatory myelitis and ulcerative colitis ( Li et al, 2024 ; Xiong et al, 2024 ).…”